Time Duration Calculator
This calculator finds the elapsed time between a start time and an end time, expressed in hours and minutes. It handles overnight durations where the end time is on the next day.
How It Works
Convert both times to total minutes since midnight. Subtract start from end. If the result is negative (end time is before start time), add 1,440 minutes (24 hours) to handle overnight spans. Convert total minutes back to hours and minutes for the result.
Worked Examples
Example 1. Start: 9:00 AM. End: 5:30 PM. Duration = 510 minutes = 8 hours 30 minutes.
Example 2 (overnight). Start: 10:00 PM. End: 6:00 AM. Duration = 480 minutes = 8 hours 0 minutes.
When to Use This Calculator
Use to calculate a shift length, meeting duration, or elapsed time for any activity with a known start and end time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can this handle overnight shifts?
Yes — if the end time is earlier than the start time, it assumes the end is on the following day.
What about breaks?
Use the Work Hours Calculator, which subtracts a break period from the elapsed time.
Can I calculate across multiple days?
This calculator handles a single same-day or overnight span. For multi-day durations, multiply whole days by 24 hours and add any partial-day span.