shift hours

Hours Between Times Calculator

A quick, simple start-to-finish calculator with optional break deduction. This is a free calculator built for quick repeat checks on mobile and desktop.

Advice for this situation

This is the quick helper for anyone who just needs the clean difference between two times and a break value without extra planning detail. In the UK, unpaid lunch breaks normally only come out of paid time when you are genuinely relieved from work, average weekly hours are usually checked over a longer reference period, and overtime premiums often come from the contract rather than one universal statutory rate.

The fast answer is only reliable if the start, end, and break assumptions are all correct. If your workplace uses paid breaks, on-call time, or shift differentials, compare the calculator result with your rota rule before treating the number as payroll-ready.

UK guidance on this page is a practical planning layer, not legal advice. If the answer affects pay, dismissal, leave entitlement, or a formal workplace process, verify it against the contract, policy, collective rule, or official guidance that applies to your role.

  • This is ideal for fast checks before you commit the result to a timesheet.
  • If the shift crosses midnight, make sure the tool knows that rather than assuming same-day time.
  • Use a more detailed calculator if you also need pay, night hours, or overtime logic.

What you can enter

  • Start time
  • End time
  • Ends next day: Turn the option on or off.
  • Optional break minutes

Example uses

  • Simple long-tail search answer - Ideal for fast “how many hours between” queries.

Frequently asked questions

  • Do I need to enter breaks? No. Leave the break field at zero if you want gross time.

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