Time Difference Calculator
Find the exact difference between two clock times in hours, minutes, and seconds.
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Quick Tip
Enter the start time.
About This Tool
Why use Time Difference Calculator?
Enter a start and an end time and this calculator returns the gap in hours and minutes, plus decimal hours, total minutes and total seconds. Decimal hours are the figure timesheets and invoices usually want: 7 hours 30 minutes is 7.5 hours, not 7.3.
That conversion trips people up constantly. Minutes divide by 60, so 15 minutes is 0.25 hours, 20 minutes is 0.33 and 45 minutes is 0.75. Getting it wrong on an invoice at £40 an hour turns a 7:30 shift into a £292 charge instead of £300.
Key Benefits
Decimal hours done right
Minutes are divided by 60, which is what payroll systems expect and what manual conversion usually gets wrong.
Three total units
Minutes and seconds alongside hours, for timing and scheduling work.
Instant recalculation
Change either time and the result updates immediately, so you can test shift patterns quickly.
How to use Time Difference Calculator
- 1
Enter the start time.
- 2
Enter the end time.
- 3
Read the difference in hours and minutes.
- 4
Use the decimal hours figure for timesheets, invoices and payroll.
Best use cases
Work out hours worked on a shift for a timesheet.
Convert a duration into decimal hours for invoicing.
Measure how long a task or meeting actually took.
Check a break-adjusted shift length before submitting hours.
Time Difference Calculator FAQs
How do I convert minutes to decimal hours?
Divide by 60. 30 minutes is 0.5, 20 minutes is 0.33 and 50 minutes is 0.83 hours.
How do I handle a shift that crosses midnight?
Split it into two parts — up to midnight and from midnight — and add them, or add 24 hours to the end time before subtracting.
Should I subtract breaks?
If your employer does not pay for breaks, subtract them from the total before submitting. Enter the times either side of the break separately for an exact figure.
Why does my payroll total differ slightly?
Many payroll systems round to the nearest 5, 6 or 15 minutes. Check your employer's rounding rule against the exact figure here.
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