Shift Work Calculator

How this calculation works

Overnight shifts that cross midnight require special handling: if the end time is earlier than the start time, the shift wraps into the next day.

Federal law does not require a night-shift pay premium, though many employers offer one.

How this Shift Work Calculator works — 2026 guide

Shifts that cross midnight break every normal timecard assumption — if you clock in at 22:00 and out at 06:00, the end time is numerically "earlier" than the start. This shift work calculator handles the wrap automatically: it detects the overnight crossing, adds 24 hours to the end time, subtracts your unpaid break, and returns the true hours worked. It also flags night-shift hours so you can see how much of your week qualifies for any shift differential your employer pays (federal law doesn't require one, but many employers add $1–$3/hour for night work).

How to use it in 3 steps

1. Enter your clock-in and clock-out time for each shift, including overnight shifts that cross midnight.
2. Add an unpaid break length — it is deducted before the total is computed.
3. Read hours per shift, the weekly total, and a night-hours breakdown for differential math.

Who this is for

Nurses and overnight healthcare staff, warehouse and factory shift workers, and managers scheduling across midnight. Read the [overnight shift hour calculation guide](/blog/rules-for-overnight-shift-work-hour-calculation/), the [night shift differential pay guide](/blog/how-to-calculate-night-shift-differential-pay/), and the [shift differential pay overview](/blog/shift-differential-pay/) for the pay side.

Data sources & authoritative references

This calculator is built on official U.S. rules and published statistics. Key sources:

• eCFR 29 CFR Part 785 — Hours Worked
• U.S. Department of Labor — Hours Worked Fact Sheet #22