Shift-length calculator
Work out the paid length of a work shift from its start and end time minus an unpaid break — overnight shifts handled automatically — and the paid hours across a week of those shifts.
Result
Paid shift length
Time at work
Paid hours per week
How to use this tool
- Enter the shift's start and end time.
- Enter the unpaid break length.
- Enter how many of these shifts you work a week.
- Read the paid shift length and weekly total.
Assumptions
- Assumes the break is entirely unpaid — a paid break shouldn't be subtracted.
Sources & reference data
Technical details: what the fields mean
- Shift start
startTime - When the shift starts.
- Shift end
endTime - When the shift ends — if earlier than the start time, it's assumed to be the next day (an overnight shift).
- Unpaid break
breakMinutes - Unpaid break time to subtract from the total shift length. Add multiple breaks together.
- Shifts per week
shiftsPerWeek - How many shifts of this length you work in a week, for the weekly total.
Methodology
Time at work = end time − start time (adding 24 hours if it spans overnight). Paid hours = time at work − unpaid break. Weekly paid hours = paid hours × shifts per week. Results are decimal hours: 0.25 = 15 minutes, 0.5 = 30, 0.75 = 45.
Worked example
22:00 to 06:30 next day, with a 30-minute unpaid break
Inputs: Shift start: 22:00, Shift end: 06:30, Unpaid break: 30 minutes
Result: 8.00 paid hours (8.5 elapsed hours minus 0.5 hour)
Office day 09:00–17:30, 30-minute lunch, 5 days
Inputs: Shift start: 09:00, Shift end: 17:30, Unpaid break: 30 minutes, Shifts per week: 5
Result: 8.00 paid hours a day, 40.00 a week.
12-hour shifts 07:00–19:00, 60 minutes unpaid, 3 a week
Inputs: Shift start: 07:00, Shift end: 19:00, Unpaid break: 60 minutes, Shifts per week: 3
Result: 11.00 paid hours a shift, 33.00 a week.
08:15–16:00 with a 20-minute break
Inputs: Shift start: 08:15, Shift end: 16:00, Unpaid break: 20 minutes, Shifts per week: 5
Result: 7.42 paid hours (7h 25m), 37.08 a week.
Practical guidance
- Check your contract or local employment law for minimum unpaid break entitlements — these vary by shift length and jurisdiction. In Great Britain, adult workers are generally entitled to a 20-minute rest break if they work more than 6 hours a day.
- To turn decimal hours into minutes, multiply the decimal part by 60: 7.42 hours is 7 hours 25 minutes.
- Timesheets that round to the nearest quarter hour can differ slightly from this exact figure.
Common mistakes
- Subtracting a paid break as if it reduced paid hours, when only unpaid breaks should be subtracted.
FAQs
How do I work out my paid hours for a shift?
Subtract your unpaid break from the total time between your start and end time — this calculator does that directly.
What does 7.75 hours mean?
7 hours 45 minutes — the decimal part times 60 gives the minutes.
Does it work for night shifts?
Yes. If the end time is earlier than the start time, the shift is treated as finishing the next day.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-11
Assumes a single continuous break — for multiple breaks, add up their total minutes first.
This tool provides an indicative estimate, based on the assumptions stated above.
Theme and tool preferences, along with saved and recently used lists, are stored only in this browser.