Work Hours Calculator
Calculate hours worked in a shift, including breaks, overnight shifts and pay. Perfect for timesheets, payroll and shift planning.
24-hour format, e.g. 09:00.
24-hour format, e.g. 17:30.
Hours worked
8h 0m
Decimal hours
8h
Gross pay
₹4,000
Overtime or night-shift differentials are not included — add them to the hourly rate if needed.
How it works
Hours = end − start − break (+24h for overnight). Pay = decimal hours × rate.
Example: 09:00–17:30 with 30 min break = 8 hours.
Last updated: August 2026
How this calculator is verified
Checked by True Calculator automated test suite on
- Formula verified against a published worked example in the automated test suite
- Edge cases (zero, negative, boundary and unit-mismatch inputs) covered by unit tests
The full verification method is on our how we verify page. Found an error? Tell us and we will re-check it.
When to Use This Calculator
An employee clocks in at 09:00, takes a 30-minute lunch break and leaves at 18:00, earning 500 rupees per hour. Enter the times, 30 break minutes and the rate. The tool returns 8 hours and 30 minutes of paid time, 8.5 hours in decimal form, and gross pay of 4,250 rupees for the day. For a night shift running 22:00 to 06:00, use the next-day option so the hours add up to 8 hours instead of showing a negative duration. Decimal hours are what most payroll systems expect.
How to Use This Calculator
- Step 1: Enter the shift start time in 24-hour format, for example 09:00.
- Step 2: Enter the shift end time, and tick the next-day option for overnight shifts.
- Step 3: Enter the total break minutes, such as 30 for lunch, and the hourly pay rate if you want the pay figure.
- Step 4: Read the hours and minutes worked, the decimal hours and the gross pay.
Worked Example
An employee clocks in at 09:00, takes a 30-minute lunch break and leaves at 18:00, earning 500 rupees per hour. Enter the times, 30 break minutes and the rate. The tool returns 8 hours and 30 minutes of paid time, 8.5 hours in decimal form, and gross pay of 4,250 rupees for the day. For a night shift running 22:00 to 06:00, use the next-day option so the hours add up to 8 hours instead of showing a negative duration. Decimal hours are what most payroll systems expect.
Tips and Common Mistakes
- •Tip 1: Count unpaid breaks separately — only actual break minutes should be subtracted, not the full lunch window if work continued.
- •Tip 2: Overtime beyond 8 hours or 9 hours needs a separate calculation; this tool gives the base hours and pay for a single shift.
- •Tip 3: Use the decimal-hours figure when filling timesheets, since spreadsheets and payroll software in India commonly store hours as decimals.
- ✗Mistake 1: Forgetting the break field — a full shift without a break overstates paid hours by the lunch duration every day.
- ✗Mistake 2: Entering 12-hour times like 6:00 PM when the field expects 24-hour format, which shifts the whole shift by 12 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate my hours worked?
Subtract the start time from the end time and remove any unpaid break. Working 9:00 to 17:30 with a 30-minute lunch is 8 hours.
How do I handle night shifts?
Mark the shift as ending the next day, or the calculator assumes it automatically when the end time is earlier than the start time.
Does the calculator include overtime pay?
No. It multiplies all hours by the single hourly rate you enter. If you earn overtime, split the shift into regular and overtime portions.
How many paid minutes are in a typical workday?
An 8-hour day is 480 minutes. With a 30-minute unpaid lunch it becomes 7.5 paid hours, or 450 minutes.
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