Use this free time duration calculator to find out how much time passed between a start and an end, even when they fall on different days. Pick a start date and time and an end date and time, and the result shows the duration in days, hours and minutes, plus the total in hours, minutes and decimal hours. It works for multi-day jobs, long shifts, project time, travel time and anything else you need to measure. For a single shift on one day with an unpaid break, the work hours calculator is faster.
How to use the time duration calculator
- Enter the start date and start time.
- Enter the end date and end time. The end must be after the start.
- Read the duration in days, hours and minutes.
- Use the totals below it when you need hours only, minutes only or decimal hours for pay.
Example: Monday 8:30 AM to Wednesday 5:15 PM
A job starts Monday at 8:30 AM and finishes Wednesday at 5:15 PM. From Monday 8:30 AM to Wednesday 8:30 AM is 2 days, or 48 hours. From 8:30 AM to 5:15 PM is another 8 hours 45 minutes. The duration is 2 days 8 hours 45 minutes, which is 56 hours 45 minutes in total, 56.75 decimal hours, or 3,405 minutes.
How time duration is calculated
The calculator turns the start and the end into a count of minutes on the calendar and subtracts the start from the end. Dividing the minutes by 1,440 gives whole days, and the remainder gives hours and minutes. Total hours is the minutes divided by 60, so 3,405 minutes is 3,405 / 60 = 56.75 hours. Clock changes for daylight saving time are not applied, so every day counts as exactly 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate the time duration between two times?
Subtract the start time from the end time. If the two times are on different days, include the dates so the days are counted. For 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM on the same day, the duration is 8 hours 30 minutes.
How do I calculate duration across midnight?
Enter the real dates. A start of 10:00 PM on the 1st and an end of 6:00 AM on the 2nd is 8 hours.
How many hours are in a duration of days?
Multiply the days by 24 and add the extra hours. 2 days 8 hours is 2 x 24 + 8 = 56 hours.
How do I turn a duration into decimal hours?
Divide the minutes by 60 and add the result to the hours. 56 hours 45 minutes is 56.75 hours.
Does this calculator subtract breaks?
No. It measures elapsed time only. To subtract an unpaid break from a shift, use the work hours calculator.