ShiftCalculator
Get the real length of any work shift with this free Shift Calculator. Enter the start and end times, take off breaks, spot overtime and see your net work hours next to an estimate of shift pay.
Calculate Your Shift Hours
Add shift times, breaks and an hourly rate to see net hours and pay.
How the Shift Calculator Works
Four steps to your shift hours and pay.
Enter Shift Times
Set the shift start and end time. Day, evening and overnight shifts are all handled automatically.
Add Breaks
Enter total unpaid break time in minutes — lunch, rest periods and any other deductions.
Set Hourly Rate
Add an hourly rate if you want earnings too, or leave it empty to see hours only.
View Results
See gross hours, net hours after breaks, decimal hours and shift pay straight away.
What Is a Shift Calculator?
How shift hour calculations and break deductions work.
Shift hours explained
A Shift Calculator totals the working time in one shift. From the clock-in time, clock-out time and break duration it produces the net hours that are paid or billed.
The rule is Net Hours = (End Time − Start Time) − Break Time. A 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM shift with a 30-minute break comes to 8.0 net hours.
Types of shifts
Day shifts (6 AM–6 PM), evening shifts (2 PM–10 PM) and night shifts (10 PM–6 AM) are all calculated the same way; when a shift crosses midnight, 24 hours are added automatically.
Split shifts
A split shift has a long unpaid gap in the middle. Either calculate each part separately and add them, or enter the full span and treat the gap as break time.
When to Use a Shift Calculator
Typical shift calculation situations.
Healthcare Workers
Work out net hours for 12-hour shifts with mandatory breaks for accurate payroll reporting.
Manufacturing
Plant workers on rotating shifts can log day, swing and graveyard shifts separately and keep the totals straight.
Restaurant Staff
Total split shift hours for front-of-house staff — a lunch rush from 11 to 2, a dinner service from 5 to 10, and an unpaid gap in between.
Security Guards
Time overnight patrols such as 10 PM to 6 AM without worrying about the date change.
Delivery Drivers
Track driving hours and required rest breaks to stay within hours-of-service rules.
Call Centers
Measure shift coverage across time zones and check break compliance and productive time.
Shift Calculation Examples
Common shift patterns and the net hours they produce.
Standard day shift
9:00 AM – 5:30 PM with a 30-minute break gives 8.0 net hours — the classic office day.
Night shift
10:00 PM – 6:00 AM with a 30-minute break gives 7.5 net hours, midnight crossing included.
12-hour hospital shift
7:00 AM – 7:00 PM with a 60-minute break gives 11.0 net hours, a common healthcare pattern.
Part-time shift
2:00 PM – 6:00 PM with no break gives 4.0 net hours; short shifts often have no required break.
Shift Calculator FAQ
Answers to common questions about the Shift Calculator.
Enter when the shift starts and ends. The calculator subtracts start from end, takes off your break time and shows the net shift hours as HH:MM and as decimal hours.
Yes. A shift from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM is recognised as crossing midnight, 24 hours are added behind the scenes, and the answer is the correct 8 hours.
Add your breaks together and enter the total in minutes. A 30-minute lunch plus two 15-minute rests is 60 minutes, all of which comes off the gross shift.
Net shift hours are multiplied by your hourly rate. If the shift goes past your overtime threshold, the extra hours are paid at the overtime rate, usually 1.5 times normal.
Yes — calculate each shift on its own with its own times. Day, evening, night, split and rotating patterns all work the same way.
Yes. It is free with no sign-up, and every calculation stays in your browser.
A graveyard shift is an overnight shift, typically running from around 11 PM or midnight until 7 or 8 AM. Because it crosses midnight, enter the real start and end times and the calculator handles the date change.