Example 1 (simple): 2:45 + 3:50 + 1:20
- Minutes: 45 + 50 + 20 = 115 = 1 hour 55 minutes
- Hours: 2 + 3 + 1 + 1 (carried) = 7
- Total = 7 hours 55 minutes = 475 minutes = 7.9167 decimal hours
These are the calculator's default rows.
Add and Subtract Time Calculator: Hours and Minutes
Add or subtract hours and minutes in as many rows as you need, and convert the total between hours and minutes and decimal hours.
Quick answer
To add time, add the minutes first, carry every 60 minutes into the hours, then add the hours. For example 2:45 + 3:50 + 1:20 is 7 hours 55 minutes, or 7.92 decimal hours. To subtract, take the smaller time from the larger; borrow 60 minutes from the hours when the minutes do not cover it.
How to read your result
Each row is one amount of time with an operation. Choose + add or − subtract, enter whole hours and whole minutes (minutes above 59 are fine), and the calculator keeps a running total. Empty rows are ignored.
- Total (h:mm): the sum as hours and minutes. A negative total means you subtracted more than you added, and it is shown with a minus sign.
- Decimal hours: the total divided by 60, to four decimals, for invoices and payroll.
- Total minutes: the whole total in minutes.
The converter underneath works both ways. Type decimal hours to see hours and minutes, or type hours and minutes to see decimal hours. The reference table further down lists every minute from 1 to 60 as a decimal.
Adding, subtracting and converting time
total minutes = Σ ( sign × (hours × 60 + minutes) )
hours = ⌊ total ÷ 60 ⌋ minutes = total mod 60
decimal hours = hours + minutes ÷ 60 minutes = (decimal hours − hours) × 60
Every row is turned into minutes first, so carrying and borrowing never go wrong. The decimal conversion rounds to the nearest whole minute when it converts back, so 7.33 hours becomes 7:20 and 0.1 hours becomes 0:06.
Worked examples
Each example uses numbers you can load into the calculator above; the results match the tool exactly.
Example 2 (realistic): an 8-hour day minus a break and a meeting
You were on site for 8:00 and want the time left for project work after a 45-minute break and a 1 hour 15 minute meeting.
- 8:00 − 0:45 − 1:15 = 6 hours 0 minutes
- Decimal hours = 6; total minutes = 360
Example 3: converting decimal hours and minutes
- 7.75 decimal hours = 7 hours and 0.75 × 60 = 45 minutes = 7:45
- 7 hours 20 minutes = 7 + 20 ÷ 60 = 7.3333 decimal hours
The converter under the rows shows both conversions with its default inputs, 7.75 hours and 7 hours 20 minutes.
Minutes to decimal hours reference table
Payroll systems usually want decimal hours, while clocks show minutes. Divide the minutes by 60, or read the value from the table and add it to the whole hours. For 7 hours 45 minutes, look up 45 minutes (0.75) and write 7.75. The table is rounded to two decimals.
| Minutes | Decimal hours | Minutes | Decimal hours | Minutes | Decimal hours | Minutes | Decimal hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.02 | 16 | 0.27 | 31 | 0.52 | 46 | 0.77 |
| 2 | 0.03 | 17 | 0.28 | 32 | 0.53 | 47 | 0.78 |
| 3 | 0.05 | 18 | 0.30 | 33 | 0.55 | 48 | 0.80 |
| 4 | 0.07 | 19 | 0.32 | 34 | 0.57 | 49 | 0.82 |
| 5 | 0.08 | 20 | 0.33 | 35 | 0.58 | 50 | 0.83 |
| 6 | 0.10 | 21 | 0.35 | 36 | 0.60 | 51 | 0.85 |
| 7 | 0.12 | 22 | 0.37 | 37 | 0.62 | 52 | 0.87 |
| 8 | 0.13 | 23 | 0.38 | 38 | 0.63 | 53 | 0.88 |
| 9 | 0.15 | 24 | 0.40 | 39 | 0.65 | 54 | 0.90 |
| 10 | 0.17 | 25 | 0.42 | 40 | 0.67 | 55 | 0.92 |
| 11 | 0.18 | 26 | 0.43 | 41 | 0.68 | 56 | 0.93 |
| 12 | 0.20 | 27 | 0.45 | 42 | 0.70 | 57 | 0.95 |
| 13 | 0.22 | 28 | 0.47 | 43 | 0.72 | 58 | 0.97 |
| 14 | 0.23 | 29 | 0.48 | 44 | 0.73 | 59 | 0.98 |
| 15 | 0.25 | 30 | 0.50 | 45 | 0.75 | 60 | 1.00 |
Related time tools
For the time between two clock times use the elapsed time calculator. To total a shift with an unpaid break use the work hours calculator. The guide to adding hours and minutes explains the method with more examples.
How to add and subtract hours and minutes by hand
- Line up hours and minutes in two columns. 2:45, 3:50 and 1:20.
- Add the minutes. 45 + 50 + 20 = 115.
- Carry. 115 minutes is 1 hour 55 minutes: write 55 and carry 1 to the hours.
- Add the hours plus the carry. 2 + 3 + 1 + 1 = 7. The total is 7:55.
- To subtract, take minutes from minutes; if the minutes are too small, borrow 1 hour (60 minutes). 8:00 − 0:45 is 7:15.
Assumptions, limits and common mistakes
Assumptions and limits
- Rows accept whole hours and whole minutes. For fractions of a minute use the converter or the elapsed time calculator.
- Totals are shown as hours and minutes with no days, so 30 hours stays 30:00.
- The decimal conversion rounds to the nearest minute when going back to hours and minutes.
Common mistakes
- Adding minutes like decimals. 2:45 + 3:50 is not 5.95; the minutes carry at 60, so it is 6:35.
- Reading 7:30 as 7.30. Seven and a half hours is 7.5 decimal.
- Forgetting to borrow. 3:10 − 1:25 is 1:45, not 2:−15.
- Rounding decimal hours too early. 7.33 hours is 7:20 (7.3333), so sums of rounded values drift.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add hours and minutes?
Add the minutes first, carry every 60 into the hours, then add the hours. 2:45 + 3:50 is 6 hours 35 minutes.
How do I subtract hours and minutes?
Subtract the minutes, borrowing 60 from the hours if needed, then subtract the hours. 8:00 − 0:45 is 7 hours 15 minutes.
How do I convert minutes to decimal hours?
Divide the minutes by 60. Fifteen minutes is 0.25 hours, 30 is 0.5, 45 is 0.75 and 20 is 0.33. The reference table lists 1 to 60.
How do I convert decimal hours to hours and minutes?
Keep the whole number as hours and multiply the decimal by 60 for the minutes. 7.75 hours is 7 hours and 0.75 × 60 = 45 minutes.
How do I convert hours to minutes?
Multiply the hours by 60 and add the minutes. 2 hours 45 minutes is 2 × 60 + 45 = 165 minutes. The total minutes figure in the results does this for any total.
Can I add more than 24 hours?
Yes. The total is shown as hours and minutes, so 30 hours is 30:00. There is no day roll-over.
What does a negative total mean?
You subtracted more time than you added. The result is shown with a minus sign, for example -1:15.
Last updated 19 October 2026. Last reviewed 19 October 2026. Reviewed by Umesh Manral. Formulas and tests: methodology.