How to use the hours calculator
Type a start time and an end time, and ClearTimeCard shows the time between them in hours:minutes and decimal hours.
- Type the start time, such as
8:30 am,8:30a,0830, or7am. - Type the end time, such as
5por17:15. - Optional: add an unpaid break as break minutes (for example, 30) or as lunch out / lunch in times. ClearTimeCard subtracts it.
- Read your paid hours in decimals and in hours:minutes.
If the end time is earlier than the start time, ClearTimeCard counts the end as the next day, so 10:00 pm to 6:30 am works as one overnight shift. Without am or pm, times are read as 24-hour time. If a span comes out longer than 16 hours, ClearTimeCard asks you to check AM/PM.
This page doesn't save what you type, and your entries aren't sent to our servers. For a full week with daily lunches, overtime, and weekly totals, use the weekly time card.
Decimal hours explained
To turn minutes into decimal hours, divide the minutes by 60.
Payroll systems use decimals because pay is hours times a rate. For example, 7 hours 20 minutes is 7 + 20 ÷ 60 = 7.33 hours. To go back, multiply the decimal part by 60: 0.4 hour × 60 = 24 minutes.
| Minutes | Decimal hours |
|---|---|
| 5 | 0.08 |
| 10 | 0.17 |
| 15 | 0.25 |
| 20 | 0.33 |
| 30 | 0.50 |
| 40 | 0.67 |
| 45 | 0.75 |
| 50 | 0.83 |
Values are rounded to two decimal places. ClearTimeCard always uses your exact minutes and rounds only the displayed result.
Worked examples
Example 1: 8:10 am to 4:55 pm is 8 hours 45 minutes, or 8.75 hours. 8:10 am to 4:10 pm is 8 hours, and 4:10 pm to 4:55 pm is 45 minutes. 45 ÷ 60 = 0.75.
Example 2: 10:00 pm to 6:30 am is 8 hours 30 minutes, or 8.50 hours. 10:00 pm to midnight is 2 hours, and midnight to 6:30 am is 6 hours 30 minutes. 2:00 + 6:30 = 8:30.
Example 3: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm with a 30-minute unpaid break is 7 hours 30 minutes, or 7.50 hours. The span is 8 hours. Enter 30 in break minutes, and 8:00 minus 0:30 = 7:30.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find the hours between two times?
Subtract the start time from the end time. For 8:10 am to 4:55 pm, 8:10 to 4:10 is 8 hours, plus 45 minutes to 4:55, for 8 hours 45 minutes or 8.75 hours. ClearTimeCard does this for you and shows both forms.
How does it handle a shift that crosses midnight?
When the end time is earlier than the start time, ClearTimeCard treats the end as the next day. So 10:00 pm to 6:30 am is 8 hours 30 minutes, or 8.50 hours, and the result is marked "Overnight".
Can it subtract lunch or breaks?
Yes. Add an unpaid break as minutes or as lunch out and lunch in times, and ClearTimeCard subtracts it. Only subtract unpaid meal breaks. Under federal rules, short breaks of about 5 to 20 minutes are paid work time (29 CFR 785.18). See how lunch breaks work.
Why use decimal hours for pay?
Payroll multiplies hours by a pay rate, and that math needs decimals. 8 hours 30 minutes is 8.50 hours, and 8.50 × $18 = $153.00. Writing 8.30 on a payroll form would be wrong, because 0.30 hour is 18 minutes, not 30.
What time formats can I type?
You can type 8:30 am, 8:30a, 5p, 7am, 0830, or 17:15. Both 12-hour and 24-hour times work. With 12-hour times, add a, p, am, or pm. Without one, the time is read as 24-hour time.
Is what I type saved or shared?
No. This page doesn't save your entries, and they aren't sent to our servers. Keep your own record of anything you need for payroll or a pay question.
ClearTimeCard gives general information and estimates only, not legal, tax, or payroll advice. Check your employer's pay policy or your state labor agency for pay rules.