Calculating Hours Between Times for Day and Night Shifts
Calculating Standard Daytime Shifts
To calculate duration within the same calendar day, subtract start time from end time. For instance, from 09:00:00 to 17:30:00 yields exactly 8 hours and 30 minutes (8.50 decimal hours).
Overnight Shifts Crossing Midnight (+1 day)
If the start time is 22:30 and the end time is 06:15, the calculator automatically detects midnight rollover: (24:00 - 22:30) + (06:15) = 1h 30m + 6h 15m = 7 hours and 45 minutes (7.75 decimal hours).
Why Decimal Hours Matter for Payroll & Invoicing
Decimal hours are essential for calculating employee payroll, multiplying hourly freelance billing rates, and entering duration into spreadsheets.