How to use the elapsed time calculator
- 1 Choose the start time: hour, minute and AM or PM.
- 2 Choose the end time.
- 3 Add days later if the end is on a later day.
- 4 Read the elapsed time in hours and minutes and in decimal hours.
Worked example
From 9:15 AM to 5:45 PM on the same day. That is 510 minutes, or 8 hours 30 minutes: 8.5 decimal hours. At $20 an hour that shift pays $170.
Tracking time accurately
- Check AM and PM: it is the most common mistake.
- Overnight shifts cross midnight automatically.
- Subtract unpaid breaks separately.
- Use decimal hours on timesheets.
Count days with the Date Difference Calculator, find your exact age with the Age Calculator, and convert units with the Time Converter. To estimate how long until alcohol leaves your body, use the BAC Calculator.
How it works: Each time is converted to minutes after midnight, with 12 AM counted as midnight and 12 PM as noon. The start is taken from the end, a day is added if the end comes earlier, and the minutes are turned back into hours, decimal hours and seconds.
Features
Crosses midnight
Overnight times are handled automatically.
Decimal hours
8 h 30 min shown as 8.5 hours for timesheets.
Multi-day spans
Add whole days between start and end.
When to use it
Timesheets
Work out hours for each shift. Add up a week with the Hours Calculator.
Homework
Elapsed time word problems for school.
Travel and events
How long a trip, flight or event lasts. Work out average speed with the Speed Calculator.
Date spans
Count days with the Days Between Dates Calculator.
Related Time and Date tasks
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate elapsed time?
Convert both times to minutes after midnight, subtract the start from the end, and convert back to hours and minutes. 9:15 AM to 5:45 PM is 555 to 1,065 minutes: 510 minutes, or 8 hours 30 minutes.
How do I find elapsed time across midnight?
Add 24 hours to the end time before subtracting. 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM is 8 hours. The calculator does this automatically.
How do I convert minutes to decimal hours?
Divide the minutes by 60. 30 minutes = 0.5 hours, 15 minutes = 0.25, 45 minutes = 0.75.
Does this subtract lunch breaks?
No. Work out the break separately and subtract it from the elapsed time.
What is 12:00 PM?
Noon. 12:00 AM is midnight at the start of the day.
How do I calculate pay from elapsed time?
Multiply the decimal hours by your hourly rate. 8.5 hours at $20 an hour is $170.
How do I teach elapsed time to kids?
Count on in steps: from 9:15 to 10:00 is 45 minutes, then whole hours to 5:00, then the minutes to 5:45.
Can I use 24-hour times?
Convert to 12-hour first: hours above 12 are PM minus 12 (17:45 = 5:45 PM).
Does it account for daylight saving time?
No. On the night clocks change, add or subtract an hour yourself.
How do I add time to a start time?
Use the Add Days to Date Calculator for days, or enter a start and end time here to check a duration.
How many minutes are in 8.5 hours?
510 minutes: 8 × 60 + 30.
How do I add up a week of shifts?
Work out each day's elapsed time in decimal hours and add them, then subtract breaks.
What is military time?
The 24-hour clock: 1:00 PM is 13:00 and midnight is 00:00. Convert to 12-hour times before entering.
Is 12:30 AM after midnight?
Yes. 12:30 AM is half an hour after midnight; 12:30 PM is half an hour after noon.
Built and reviewed by Hamza Farooq, founder and lead developer
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