Time Calculator: Add and Subtract Hours, Minutes and Seconds, and Convert Decimal Hours

Work with hours, minutes and seconds.

Calculated from standard textbook formulas, with every step shown. The formulas are fixed, so the working does not need checking: what matters is the numbers you type in. Use these calculators only if you are competent to choose the inputs (loads, material strength, dimensions, supports) and check your units and assumptions. For learning and checking your own working: design and sign-off are for a qualified engineer. Drafting Central does not store the numbers you type.

How this calculator works

Choose add, subtract or convert.

Enter the hours, minutes and seconds, or the decimal hours.

The calculator gives the result as hours:minutes:seconds, in decimal hours, in minutes and in seconds.

Formulas used

  • t = 3600h + 60m + s
  • \text{decimal hours} = h + \frac{m}{60} + \frac{s}{3600}

Worked example

With the default numbers in the calculator above:

  1. Time 1 and time 2 in seconds: 9930 s and 5445 s
  2. The total, as hours:minutes:seconds: 4:16:15
  3. The result in decimal hours: 4.2708333 hours
  4. The result in minutes and in seconds: 256.25 minutes and 15375 seconds

Change the numbers in the calculator to see the full working, every step, for your own case.

A second worked example

A different case, with these numbers: What do you want? Subtract time 2 from time 1.

  1. Time 1 and time 2 in seconds: 9930 s and 5445 s
  2. The difference, as hours:minutes:seconds: 1:14:45
  3. The result in decimal hours: 1.2458333 hours
  4. The result in minutes and in seconds: 74.75 minutes and 4485 seconds

Common questions

How do I convert decimal hours to hours and minutes?

The whole number is the hours. Multiply the decimal part by 60 to get the minutes. 2.75 hours is 2 hours 45 minutes.

How do I add times?

Add the hours, minutes and seconds separately, then carry over any 60 seconds to a minute and any 60 minutes to an hour.

Why use decimal hours?

For pay and billing, because you can multiply decimal hours directly by an hourly rate.

Related calculators

Got a question about this? Ask an engineering question and get a plain-language answer with references.

Further reading: Basic arithmetic of time units.

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