Hours Between Times Calculator

Converting punch clock intervals into exact decimal hours is essential for payroll specialists, attorneys tracking billable increments, and contractor

Time & Date

Start Hour (0–23)

hour

Start Minute (0–59)

min

End Hour (0–23)

hour

End Minute (0–59)

min

Timesheet Rounding

Formula & Methodology

Raw Minutes = End Total Minutes − Start Total Minutes [+ 1,440 if overnight] Rounded Minutes = Round(Raw Minutes ÷ Rounding Interval) × Rounding Interval Decimal Hours = Rounded Minutes ÷ 60

Times are converted into minutes from midnight. The difference produces raw elapsed minutes. When a rounding rule is selected (such as the 7-minute rule for quarter hours), minutes are rounded to the nearest integer multiple of the interval before dividing by 60 to produce decimal hours.

Total Billable Decimal Hours

8.5 hours

Overview

Converting punch clock intervals into exact decimal hours is essential for payroll specialists, attorneys tracking billable increments, and contractors billing hourly rates. The Hours Between Times Calculator evaluates the exact span between start and end times, offering industry-standard rounding rules including 15-minute quarter hours, 30-minute half hours, and 6-minute tenth hours.

Most corporate payroll systems and billing platforms (such as QuickBooks, ADP, and Clio) require decimal hour inputs (e.g., 8.50 hours instead of 8 hours 30 minutes). This calculator eliminates manual decimal conversion mistakes and enforces employer-approved rounding thresholds automatically.

Worked Examples

Example 1: Standard Office Hours (08:15 to 16:45, Exact)

Start: 08:15, End: 16:45, Rounding = Exact

Convert start: 8 × 60 + 15 = 495 minutes.
Convert end: 16 × 60 + 45 = 1,005 minutes.
Raw difference: 1,005 − 495 = 510 minutes.
Convert to decimal hours: 510 ÷ 60 = 8.50 hours (8 hrs 30 mins).

Final Answer: 8.50 hours (8 hrs 30 mins)

Example 2: Shift with 15-Minute Quarter-Hour Rounding (08:08 to 17:02)

Start: 08:08, End: 17:02, Rounding = 15 minutes

Start: 488 minutes, End: 1,022 minutes.
Raw minutes: 1,022 − 488 = 534 minutes.
Round to nearest 15: 534 ÷ 15 = 35.6 → 36 intervals × 15 = 540 minutes.
Decimal hours: 540 ÷ 60 = 9.00 hours.

Final Answer: 9.00 hours (9 hrs 0 mins)

Example 3: Legal Billing with 6-Minute Tenth-Hour Rounding (09:00 to 10:22)

Start: 09:00, End: 10:22, Rounding = 6 minutes (0.1 hr)

Raw minutes: (10 × 60 + 22) − 540 = 622 − 540 = 82 minutes.
Round to nearest 6: 82 ÷ 6 ≈ 13.67 → 14 × 6 = 84 minutes.
Decimal hours: 84 ÷ 60 = 1.40 hours.

Final Answer: 1.40 hours (1 hr 24 mins)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 7-minute rule for quarter-hour payroll rounding?

Under US Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) regulations, employers using 15-minute rounding round minutes 1 through 7 down to the nearest quarter hour, and minutes 8 through 14 up to the next quarter hour. Selecting the 15-minute option implements standard nearest-integer rounding.

Why do law firms and consulting agencies round to 6 minutes?

Six minutes is exactly 0.10 of an hour (one tenth). This allows professionals to track and bill time cleanly in decimal increments of 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and so forth.

Does this calculator handle cross-midnight overnight shifts?

Yes. If the end time is numerically earlier than the start time, the calculation automatically adds 24 hours (1,440 minutes).

How do I convert minutes into decimal hours manually?

Divide the number of minutes by 60. For example, 45 minutes ÷ 60 = 0.75 hours; 15 minutes ÷ 60 = 0.25 hours.

Can I deduct unpaid lunch breaks with this calculator?

For integrated break deduction, use our Elapsed Time Calculator which features a dedicated break time field.