Many factories, hospitals and call centres run three 8-hour shifts to cover 24 hours: typically day (7 am–3 pm), swing (3 pm–11 pm) and night (11 pm–7 am). An unpaid 30-minute meal break makes the time on site 8.5 hours.
How to use the 8-Hour Shift Calculator
- Shift start
- Paid shift length
- Break
- Break is
- Shifts per week
- Hourly rate
Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.
How it works
Pick the start time, shift length, break length and whether the break is paid, shifts per week and your hourly rate.
Tips
- Check whether the end date should be included – event durations usually include it, elapsed time does not.
- Months have 28–31 days, so “one month” is counted by calendar date, not as 30 days.
- Use 24-hour time or set AM/PM carefully when entering clock times.
- Time zones and daylight-saving changes are not applied unless the calculator says so.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Counting a 30-day month when a calendar month is meant (or the reverse).
- Forgetting leap years when counting days across February.
- Mixing decimal hours (7.5 h) with clock time (7:30).
Inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Shift start | A clock time (hours and minutes) |
| Paid shift length | In h |
| Break | In min |
| Break is | Choose one: Unpaid (added to time on site), Paid (within the shift) |
| Shifts per week | A number |
| Hourly rate | Amount in your currency |
What each result means
- Shift ends at (24-hour) = [Shift ends at]
- Paid hours per week = [Paid shift length]×[Shifts per week]
- Weekly pay = [Paid shift length]×[Shifts per week]×[Hourly rate]
- 2nd shift starts = [Shift start] + 8
- 3rd shift starts = [Shift start] + 16
Formula
End time = start + shift length (+ unpaid break)Weekly paid hours = paid hours per shift × shiftsThree-shift rotation: shift 2 starts 8 h after shift 1, shift 3 starts 16 h afterWorked example
Inputs — Shift start: 07:00; Paid shift length: 8 h; Break: 30 min; Break is: Unpaid (added to time on site); Shifts per week: 5; Hourly rate: $20.
Results — Shift ends at = 3:30 PM; Shift ends at (24-hour) = 15:30; Time on site = 8 h 30 min; Paid hours per week = 40; Weekly pay = $800.00; 2nd shift starts = 3:00 PM; 3rd shift starts = 11:00 PM.
Frequently asked questions
When does an 8-hour shift starting at 7 am end?
At 3 pm, or 3:30 pm with an unpaid 30-minute break.
What are the three 8-hour shifts?
Typically 7 am–3 pm, 3 pm–11 pm and 11 pm–7 am.
Is a lunch break included in an 8-hour shift?
Usually not – unpaid meal breaks are added on top of the 8 paid hours.
What formula does the 8-Hour Shift Calculator use?
End time = start + shift length (+ unpaid break).