What this calculator does
This calculator answers a simple, common question: how many minutes between two times of day. Enter a start time and an end time and it returns the elapsed minutes, along with the same figure broken into hours and minutes for easier reading.
It works with clock times only, not full dates, which is what most people actually want when timing a shift, a meeting or a journey. If the end time is earlier in the clock than the start time, such as starting at 11 pm and finishing at 2 am, the calculator assumes the end time falls on the next day and adds 24 hours before working out the difference, rather than returning a negative or nonsensical result.
The formula
Convert both times to minutes since midnight, then subtract the start from the end. If that gives a negative number, the end time is treated as being on the following day, so 24 hours (1,440 minutes) is added before showing the result. The total is then also expressed as whole hours plus remaining minutes.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Minutes elapsed | The total number of minutes between the start and end time. |
| Start time | The clock time the period begins. |
| End time | The clock time the period ends, assumed to be the next day if it is earlier in the clock than the start time. |
The inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Start time | The clock time the period starts at, in 24-hour or AM/PM format depending on your device. |
| End time | The clock time the period ends at. If this is earlier in the day than the start time, it is treated as the next day. |
When to use it
Timing a shift or a meeting
Enter the start and finish clock times to get the total minutes worked or spent in the meeting, without having to do the subtraction and any midnight crossover by hand.
Working out an overnight duration
A start time late in the evening and an end time early the following morning, such as 11:00 pm to 6:30 am, is handled automatically as crossing into the next day, giving the correct elapsed time instead of a negative number.
Checking a break or gap between two clock times
Two appointment times on the same day, such as 10:15 am and 11:40 am, give the exact number of minutes free between them for scheduling purposes.
Worked examples
Every figure in the tables below is produced by this page’s own calculator at build time, so the numbers and the tool always agree. Select any row to load that scenario.
How many minutes between a fixed start time and a range of end times
A fixed 9:00 am start, against a range of end times later the same day.
| End time | Minutes elapsed | Hours and minutes |
|---|---|---|
| 09:15 | 15 | 0 h 15 min |
| 09:30 | 30 | 0 h 30 min |
| 10:00 | 60 | 1 h 0 min |
| 12:00 | 180 | 3 h 0 min |
| 17:00 | 480 | 8 h 0 min |
| 17:30 | 510 | 8 h 30 min |
How an overnight span is handled crossing midnight
A fixed 10:00 pm start, against a range of end times that fall after midnight, into the next day.
| End time | Minutes elapsed | Hours and minutes |
|---|---|---|
| 23:00 | 60 | 1 h 0 min |
| 00:00 | 120 | 2 h 0 min |
| 01:00 | 180 | 3 h 0 min |
| 03:00 | 300 | 5 h 0 min |
| 06:00 | 480 | 8 h 0 min |
| 08:00 | 600 | 10 h 0 min |
Questions
How many minutes between 11 pm and 2 am?
That is 180 minutes, or 3 hours. Because 2 am is earlier in the clock than 11 pm, the calculator treats it as falling on the next day and adds 24 hours before subtracting, giving the correct overnight span rather than a negative number.
Does this calculator work with full dates as well as clock times?
No, it deliberately only takes clock times, for spans that stay within a day or cross a single midnight. For a difference spanning multiple full dates, use the date and time calculator instead.
What happens if I enter the same start and end time?
The result is zero minutes elapsed, since no time has passed between an identical start and end time.
Can the end time be more than 24 hours after the start time?
No, this calculator only handles a single day or a single overnight crossing, so the elapsed time it returns is always between 0 and 1,440 minutes. For longer spans, use a calculator that takes full start and end dates.
For a duration spanning full calendar dates rather than clock times within a day, see the date and time calculator. To add several time durations together instead of finding the gap between two clock times, use the add time calculator.