Everyday planning
How to calculate time between two times
Learn how to calculate hours and minutes between two times, including overnight shifts, breaks, and total-minute results.
Updated August 27, 2026 · 5 min read
How to calculate hours between two times
Convert each time into minutes after midnight. Multiply the hour by 60 and add the minutes: 08:30 becomes 510 minutes, while 17:00 becomes 1,020 minutes.
Subtract the start from the end. In this example, 1,020 minus 510 equals 510 minutes. Divide by 60 to get 8 hours with 30 minutes remaining, so the complete time span is 8 hours 30 minutes.
How to calculate minutes between two times
If you only need minutes, stop after subtracting the two minute values. From 10:20 to 11:05, the calculation is 665 minus 620, giving a duration of 45 minutes.
A total-minute result is often easier to use for appointments, lessons, exercise sessions, parking, travel connections, and other shorter activities.
How many hours are there between two overnight times?
When the end time is after midnight, it belongs to the next day. Add the time from the start until midnight to the time from midnight until the end.
A shift from 21:45 to 05:15 the next day lasts 7 hours and 30 minutes. Marking the next-day setting prevents the calculation from treating the end as earlier than the start.
Subtract breaks from the complete duration
A full span does not automatically equal work time, paid time, or study time. Remove unpaid breaks, meal periods, or other gaps after you calculate the total duration.
For example, 09:00 to 17:30 is 8 hours 30 minutes. After a 30-minute unpaid break, the net time is 8 hours. Use the Work Hours Calculator when you want this subtraction included automatically.
Choose the right result for your task
Use hours and minutes when you need a result that is easy to read. Use total minutes for shorter activities, or convert the duration to decimal hours when completing a timesheet.
For attendance, payroll, or a formal schedule, compare any estimate with the applicable policy and recorded times. Paid breaks, rounding rules, and overtime treatment can change an official total.
Put this guide into practice
Use the related calculators
Put the steps in this guide into practice with a focused calculator, then return here to check an assumption or compare another scenario.