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Hours and Minutes Calculator

Add or subtract two lengths of time. Enter hours and minutes, pick the operation, and read the total in hours, minutes and decimal form.

How do you add hours and minutes together?

Add the minutes first. Every 60 minutes becomes one hour, then add the hours. For example 2 hr 45 min plus 1 hr 30 min gives 75 minutes, which is 1 hr 15 min, so the total is 4 hr 15 min. The calculator below does the carrying for you, including subtraction.

First duration

Values over 59 are converted automatically.

Second duration

Your result will appear here after you press Calculate.

Why time uses 60 minutes to the hour

Clock time is base 60, inherited from Babylonian counting. That is why 1.5 hours is 1 hr 30 min and not 1 hr 50 min. Ordinary decimal addition gives the wrong answer unless you carry at 60 rather than at 100.

Adding durations

Add the minutes, carry each full 60 into the hours column, then add the hours.

3 hr 50 min + 2 hr 40 min: 50 + 40 = 90 minutes, which is 1 hr 30 min. 3 + 2 + 1 = 6, so the total is 6 hr 30 min.

Subtracting durations

If the minutes you are subtracting are larger, borrow one hour and add 60 minutes before subtracting.

5 hr 10 min - 1 hr 45 min: borrow an hour to make it 4 hr 70 min, then 70 - 45 = 25 and 4 - 1 = 3, so the answer is 3 hr 25 min.

Frequently asked questions

How do I add minutes over 60?
Type them in as they are. Enter 1 hour 90 minutes and the calculator normalizes it to 2 hours 30 minutes before doing the arithmetic, so you never have to convert by hand.
Can the result be negative?
Yes. If you subtract a longer duration from a shorter one, the result is shown with a minus sign, for example -1 hr 15 min. Nothing wraps around 24 hours.
Is this the same as a time duration calculator?
No. This tool adds and subtracts lengths of time. If you have two clock times such as 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, use the Time Duration Calculator instead.
Can I go over 24 hours?
Yes. Durations are not capped at a day. Adding 20 hours to 18 hours gives 38 hours, not 14.

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Calcadian calculators are for general planning and informational use. Please verify critical deadlines, legal, payroll, tax, HR, or official requirements with the relevant authorities or a qualified professional.