How to Calculate Hours When a Shift Crosses Midnight
When a shift crosses midnight, the end time occurs on the following calendar day. Calculate the full elapsed duration across midnight, then subtract unpaid breaks to find net work time.
Practical timekeeping guide · ShiftHours
Example: 10 PM to 6 AM
From 10:00 PM to midnight is 2 hours. From midnight to 6:00 AM is another 6 hours. The full span is 8 hours before breaks.
A 30-minute unpaid break leaves 7 hours 30 minutes of net time. This is 7.50 decimal hours.
Example: 11:30 PM to 7:15 AM
From 11:30 PM to midnight is 30 minutes. From midnight to 7:15 AM is 7 hours 15 minutes. Total duration is 7 hours 45 minutes before breaks.
If you subtract a 15-minute unpaid break, net time is 7 hours 30 minutes.
Record dates as well as times
For payroll records, keep the actual start date and end date when possible. A time-only calculator can estimate a next-day end, but the calendar date helps prevent errors across multiple shifts.
Some workplace policies assign overnight hours to a workday or pay period according to specific rules. Confirm the method that applies to your records.
Calculate overnight time
Use the overnight option in the ShiftHours calculator or read the overnight shift guide for more examples.
Use the free ShiftHours work hours calculator to calculate shift length, subtract unpaid breaks, and view decimal hours. For weekly totals, try the weekly calculator.
Worked example: finish on the next day
A shift from 10:40 PM to 6:10 AM spans 1 hour 20 minutes before midnight plus 6 hours 10 minutes after midnight, for 7 hours 30 minutes elapsed. Subtract any unpaid break only after finding the full elapsed duration.
Related resources
Open the work hours calculator · Browse all ShiftHours articles · Decimal hours chart