Free Time Duration Calculator Online
Enter a start time and end time to calculate the duration between them. This free online time duration calculator handles overnight shifts, deducts breaks, and returns results in HH:MM, decimal hours, minutes, and seconds. Completely free to use — no account needed.
Enter 0 if there is no break.
Net Work Duration
How the Free Time Duration Calculator Works
This free online time duration calculator converts the start and end clock times to total minutes since midnight, subtracts the start from the end to get the gross duration, then deducts any break time to arrive at the net duration. The result is shown as HH:MM (hours and minutes), decimal hours, total minutes, and total seconds.
Overnight shifts are handled automatically. If the end time is before the start time — for example, starting at 11:00 PM and ending at 7:00 AM — the free time duration calculator adds 24 hours (1,440 minutes) to the end time before calculating. The result is 8 hours gross, or 7.5 hours net with a 30-minute break.
The decimal hours format is standard in payroll. To calculate earnings, multiply decimal hours by your hourly rate. A 7.5-hour shift at $20/hour earns $150. This free online calculator gives you the decimal hours figure alongside HH:MM so you always have the payroll-ready number.
Common Scenarios
Payroll & Timesheets
Calculate net hours worked for each shift. This free online time duration calculator handles lunch deductions and overnight shifts so you can enter the raw clock times.
Event Planning
Find how long a meeting, event, or session lasts between two clock times — use this free calculator online for quick, accurate results.
Productivity Tracking
Track focused work sessions by entering start and stop times, then aggregate the durations. Free to use online, no app download needed.
Shift Duration Examples
| Shift Type | Start | End | Break | Net (HH:MM) | Decimal Hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard day | 09:00 | 17:00 | 60 min | 7:00 | 7.00 |
| Half day | 08:00 | 13:00 | 0 min | 5:00 | 5.00 |
| Night shift | 23:00 | 07:00 | 30 min | 7:30 | 7.50 |
| Long shift | 06:30 | 18:30 | 45 min | 11:15 | 11.25 |
| Part-time | 10:00 | 14:30 | 0 min | 4:30 | 4.50 |
Night shift example (23:00–07:00) is calculated as an overnight shift. The time duration calculator adds 24 hours to the end time automatically.
Gross vs Net Duration
Gross duration is the total clock time from start to finish. Net duration subtracts unpaid breaks. For payroll, net duration is what matters. For billing, you may bill gross or net depending on your agreement.
Example: a shift from 8:00 to 17:00 is 9 hours gross. With a 60-minute unpaid lunch, net working time is 8 hours. With a 30-minute unpaid break, net is 8 hours 30 minutes (8.5 decimal hours). Enter these values into the time duration calculator to verify instantly.
Converting Duration to Decimal for Payroll
Formula: hours + minutes / 60
7h 00m → 7.00 decimal hours
7h 15m → 7.25 decimal hours
7h 30m → 7.50 decimal hours
7h 45m → 7.75 decimal hours
8h 20m → 8.33 decimal hours
Multiply by hourly rate for earnings. E.g. 7.5h × $25 = $187.50
Free Time Duration Calculator Tips
+24h
Overnight shifts: when end < start, 24 hours is added to the end automatically. No manual adjustment needed.
÷ 60
To convert net minutes to decimal hours, divide by 60. The time duration calculator shows this automatically.
0 min
Leave break at 0 if there are no unpaid breaks. The gross and net durations will be identical.
Live
Results update in real time. Change the start time, end time, or break and the time duration recalculates immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
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