Calculate Your Shift Hours
Enter shift times, breaks, and hourly rate to get your net hours and pay.
How the Shift Calculator Works
Four steps to calculate your shift hours and pay.
Enter Shift Times
Set your shift start and end time. The calculator handles day shifts, evening shifts, and overnight shifts automatically.
Add Breaks
Enter your total break time in minutes. Include lunch, rest periods, and any unpaid breaks that should be deducted.
Set Hourly Rate
Optionally enter your hourly rate to calculate shift earnings. Leave blank if you only need hours.
View Results
Get gross hours, net hours (after breaks), decimal hours, and shift pay computed instantly.
What Is a Shift Calculator?
Understanding shift hour calculations and break deductions.
Shift hours explained
A Shift Calculator computes the total work hours for a single work shift. It takes the clock-in time, clock-out time, and break duration to produce the net billable or payable hours.
The formula: Net Hours = (End Time − Start Time) − Break Time. A 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM shift with a 30-minute break gives you 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) all work the same way. The calculator detects overnight boundaries and adds 24 hours when needed.
Split shifts
A split shift has a long gap in the middle. Calculate each portion separately and add them together, or enter the full span and add the gap as break time.
When to Use a Shift Calculator
Common shift calculation scenarios.
Healthcare Workers
Nurses and doctors work 12-hour shifts with mandatory breaks. Calculate net hours for accurate payroll reporting.
Manufacturing
Factory workers on rotating shifts need accurate hour counts. Track day, swing, and graveyard shifts separately.
Restaurant Staff
Calculate split shift hours for waitstaff. Lunch rush (11-2) plus dinner service (5-10) with a gap in between.
Security Guards
Night shift security from 10 PM to 6 AM. The calculator handles overnight boundaries automatically.
Delivery Drivers
Track driving hours with mandatory rest breaks. Ensure compliance with hours-of-service regulations.
Call Centers
Calculate shift coverage hours across multiple time zones. Track break compliance and net productive time.
Shift Calculation Examples
Common shift patterns and their net hours.
Standard day shift
9:00 AM – 5:30 PM, 30-min break = 8.0 net hours. The most common office shift pattern.
Night shift
10:00 PM – 6:00 AM, 30-min break = 7.5 net hours. Crosses midnight automatically.
12-hour hospital shift
7:00 AM – 7:00 PM, 60-min break = 11.0 net hours. Common in healthcare.
Part-time shift
2:00 PM – 6:00 PM, no break = 4.0 net hours. Short shifts often don't require breaks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the Shift Calculator.
Enter your shift start time and end time. The calculator subtracts start from end, deducts any break time, and gives you the net shift hours in both HH:MM and decimal format.
Yes. If your shift starts at 10:00 PM and ends at 6:00 AM, the calculator correctly calculates 8 hours by detecting the overnight boundary and adding 24 hours automatically.
Enter your total break time in minutes. If you have a 30-minute lunch and two 15-minute breaks, enter 60 minutes total. The calculator subtracts all breaks from your gross shift hours.
Net shift hours are multiplied by your hourly rate. If you have overtime (shift exceeds your OT threshold), those extra hours are multiplied by the overtime rate (typically 1.5×).
Calculate each shift individually by entering different start/end times. The tool works for any shift pattern — day, evening, night, split, or rotating shifts.
Yes, completely free. No sign-up required. All calculations happen in your browser — your data stays private.