'+(dec-hrs).toFixed(4)+' * 60 = '+mins+' minutes
Remaining fraction * 60 = '+secs+' seconds
Decimal Hours: '+(diff/3600).toFixed(4)+'
Using the Time Calculator Hours
Whether you are calculating payroll, tracking project hours, or timing an athletic event, our time calculator hours tool provides a fast and accurate way to manage temporal data. Time calculations can be tricky because time operates on a base-60 system (sexagesimal) rather than the standard base-10 system we use for most math.
This tool allows you to add or subtract specific amounts of time, find the duration between two timestamps, or convert decimal hours into hours, minutes, and seconds.
- Add Time
- Use this to sum up multiple time segments, such as adding together three shifts of 7 hours 30 minutes each.
- Subtract Time
- Useful for countdowns or removing breaks from a total duration.
- Time Duration
- Calculates the exact time elapsed from a start point to an end point. If the end time is numerically smaller than the start time, the calculator assumes the duration crosses over midnight.
- Decimal Hours
- Converts figures like 8.75 hours into a more readable format (8 hours and 45 minutes).
How It Works: The Math Behind Time
When you use the time calculator hours, the system converts all inputs into a single unit (seconds) to perform precise arithmetic before converting them back into the standard H:M:S format.
Total Seconds = (Hours × 3600) + (Minutes × 60) + Seconds
- Hours to Seconds: Multiply by 3600 (60 minutes × 60 seconds).
- Minutes to Seconds: Multiply by 60.
- Final Conversion: Divide the total seconds by 3600 for hours, then use the remainder to find minutes and seconds.
Calculation Examples
Example 1: Adding Work Shifts
If you worked two shifts: Shift A was 5 hours 45 minutes and Shift B was 6 hours 30 minutes.
- Shift A = (5 × 3600) + (45 × 60) = 20,700 seconds
- Shift B = (6 × 3600) + (30 × 60) = 23,400 seconds
- Sum = 44,100 seconds
- Hours = 44,100 / 3600 = 12.25 (which is 12 hours)
- Remaining = 44,100 – (12 × 3600) = 900 seconds
- Minutes = 900 / 60 = 15 minutes
- Result: 12 hours 15 minutes
Example 2: Decimal to Time Conversion
Converting 7.42 hours into standard time:
- Whole hours = 7
- Decimal portion = 0.42
- Minutes = 0.42 × 60 = 25.2 (25 whole minutes)
- Seconds = 0.2 × 60 = 12
- Result: 7h 25m 12s
Common Questions
How many minutes are in 1.5 hours?
1.5 hours equals 90 minutes. You calculate this by multiplying 1.5 by 60. In hours and minutes, this is 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Why does 0.5 hours not mean 50 minutes?
This is a common point of confusion. Because time is based on 60, 0.5 represents half of 60, which is 30 minutes. Using a time calculator hours helps avoid this decimal error in billing and scheduling.
Can this calculator handle time past midnight?
Yes, if you use the "Duration" mode and enter a Start Time of 10 PM (22:00) and an End Time of 2 AM (02:00), the calculator detects that the day has rolled over and will correctly show a duration of 4 hours.