Guide
How to Calculate the Duration Between Two Times
Learn how to compute hours and minutes between times, handle overnight spans, and total working hours.
A time duration calculator finds the elapsed time between a start and end time, expressed in hours and minutes, plus a decimal total. It handles spans that cross midnight and multi-day ranges.
How duration is calculated
The calculator converts both times to a common reference (minutes since midnight, or a full date-time), subtracts the start from the end, and converts the result back to hours and minutes. When the end is earlier than the start, it assumes the end falls on the next day.
Handling overnight and multi-day spans
A shift from 22:00 to 06:00 spans 8 hours, not −16. The calculator treats this as crossing midnight automatically. For longer spans, supplying the dates as well as the times lets it count across multiple days accurately.
How to use the calculator
- Enter the start time (and date if the span crosses midnight or longer).
- Enter the end time (and date).
- Read the duration in hours and minutes, plus the decimal total.
Examples
09:00 to 17:30 is 8 hours 30 minutes (8.5 decimal hours), useful for timesheets. 22:00 to 06:00 is 8 hours 0 minutes. A multi-day span from 1 March 09:00 to 3 March 17:00 is 56 hours.
When a time duration calculator is useful
- Logging working hours and shifts.
- Tracking event or meeting durations.
- Calculating travel or flight times.
- Totaling time across a timesheet.
Put it into practice
Use the Time Duration Calculator right now — free, in your browser, no sign-up required.
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