- Elapsed time
- 08:00:00
- Decimal hours
- 8
How it works
Decimal hours are not minutes
Seven hours and 45 minutes equals 7.75 decimal hours, not 7.45. Use the decimal result when multiplying by an hourly rate; interpreting minute digits as decimals would undercount this shift by 18 minutes.
Calculating hours across midnight
A pair of clock times needs a clear assumption about whether the end occurs on the same day or a later day. Use the date-and-time mode when calendar dates make that distinction important. Enter breaks according to the available fields instead of subtracting them twice. A duration calculation alone does not apply an employer's paid-time, overtime, or rounding policy.
Time between clock times: formula and assumptions
Elapsed clock time = end−start−break; an earlier end time is treated as the following day.
This mode covers one shift of up to 24 hours and does not account for a timezone transition.
Between two dates and times: formula and assumptions
Elapsed duration = end date/time − start date/time.
This civil-time mode treats days as 24 hours; it does not apply daylight-saving transitions. Use time-zone conversion to compare zoned instants.
Worked example
Using the Time between clock times example:
- Start time
- 09:00
- End time
- 17:30
- Unpaid break (minutes)
- 30
Elapsed clock time = end−start−break; an earlier end time is treated as the following day.
Example result
Elapsed time: 08:00:00
Decimal hours: 8
These are illustrative inputs. Change the values to explore a different scenario.
Formula references
References explain the underlying methods; they do not imply endorsement or individual professional review of Finflo.
Common questions
What happens if the end clock time is earlier than the start?
The clock-time mode treats it as the following day. Use dated inputs when the actual calendar dates matter.
Does an overnight result account for a daylight-saving change?
No. This civil-time calculation treats days as 24 hours and does not resolve timezone transitions.
Prepared by Finflo. See our methodology and editorial policy.