Hours Calculator

How to use it

1. Enter the start time and end time in 24-hour format.
2. If your shift crosses midnight, the calculator handles it — 22:00 to 06:00 is 8 hours, not minus 16.
3. Subtract your break separately if the total should exclude it.

Decimal hours — the bit that catches people out

For payroll and invoicing you usually need decimal hours, not hours and minutes. 7 hours 30 minutes is 7.5, not 7.30.

To convert: divide the minutes by 60. Billing 7.30 instead of 7.5 on a ₹1,000/hour rate loses you ₹200 every time.

Worked example

A shift from 09:30 to 18:15 with a 45-minute lunch break:

Where this gets used

• Timesheets — most payroll systems want decimal hours.
• Freelance invoicing — hourly billing needs accurate conversion.
• Shift work — including night shifts that cross midnight.
• Overtime — Indian factory and shops-and-establishments rules generally set a standard working day with overtime beyond it, often at a higher rate. The specifics vary by state, so check your state's Act.
• Study or project tracking — measuring where the hours actually went.

Common mistakes

• Writing 7.30 when you mean 7 hours 30 minutes. In decimal that's 7.5.
• Getting a negative result on an overnight shift by subtracting directly.
• Confusing 12:00 AM (midnight) with 12:00 PM (noon). 24-hour format avoids this.
• Forgetting to subtract unpaid breaks.
• Rounding each day's total before adding the week, which compounds the error.

For gaps measured in days rather than hours, use the date difference calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I calculate hours worked?

Subtract the start time from the end time, then subtract any unpaid break. This calculator does both and handles shifts crossing midnight.

How do I convert minutes to decimal hours?

Divide by 60. Thirty minutes is 0.5, forty-five minutes is 0.75.

Why is 7.30 not 7 hours 30 minutes?

Because decimal hours are out of 100, not 60. Seven and a half hours is 7.5, and writing 7.30 undercounts by 12 minutes.

How do I calculate an overnight shift?

This calculator detects when the end time is earlier than the start and adds a day. So 22:00 to 06:00 correctly returns 8 hours.

Should I subtract my lunch break?

If it is unpaid, yes. Most employers count only paid working time on a timesheet.

What are standard working hours in India?

They are set by state shops-and-establishments and factories legislation, with overtime rules beyond the standard day. The specifics vary by state, so check the Act that applies to you.

Overtime ka hisaab

Maan lijiye aapne hafte mein 52 ghante kaam kiya, jabki standard 48 hai. Aapka rate ₹300 prati ghanta hai.

Kai Indian labour kanoonon mein overtime saamanya rate ka dugna hota hai. Lekin ye niyam rajya aur sansthan ke prakar par nirbhar karta hai — apne rajya ka Shops and Establishments Act dekh lijiye.

Freelance invoice ke liye

• Har din ke ghante alag likhiye, hafte ka kul nahi. Client ko saaf dikhta hai aur sawaal kam uthte hain.
• Decimal mein likhiye — 7.75, na ki 7h 45m. Invoice software isi format mein guna karta hai.
• Chhote kaamon ko round kariye — kai freelancers 15 minute ke block mein round karte hain (0.25, 0.5, 0.75).
• Meeting aur email ka waqt bhi giniye — ye aksar chhoot jaata hai aur mahine bhar mein kai ghante ban jaata hai.

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Disclaimer. This calculator provides estimates for general guidance only and is not financial, tax or legal advice. Rates, rules and limits change, and your own situation may differ. Please verify current figures with the relevant authority or a qualified professional before acting on them.