Time Duration Calculator · Practical guide
How Many Hours Between 9AM and 5PM?
The classic 9-to-5 workday spans exactly 8 hours — here's the math, plus other common clock-in to clock-out spans.
At a glance
The Quick Answer
From 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM is exactly 8 hours — that's 480 minutes, or 28,800 seconds. In 24-hour time, 9:00 AM is 09:00 and 5:00 PM is 17:00, and 17 − 9 = 8. Enter those two times above to confirm it instantly.
Interactive tool
Time Duration Calculator
Enter your own values, then compare the result with the examples below.
Results
Common Workday Spans
| Start | End | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 AM | 5:00 PM | 8 hours |
| 8:00 AM | 4:30 PM | 8 h 30 m |
| 9:00 AM | 6:00 PM | 9 hours |
| 7:30 AM | 4:00 PM | 8 h 30 m |
| 8:30 AM | 5:00 PM | 8 h 30 m |
The Math Behind It
Convert each clock time to minutes after midnight, then subtract: 9:00 AM is 9 × 60 = 540 minutes, and 5:00 PM is 17 × 60 = 1,020 minutes. The difference, 1,020 − 540 = 480 minutes, divided by 60 gives 8 hours with no remainder.
Accounting for Lunch
The 8-hour figure is the raw clock span. If your 9-to-5 day includes an unpaid 30-minute lunch, your actual paid time is 7 hours 30 minutes (7.5 hours in decimal form); a 45-minute lunch leaves 7 hours 15 minutes. Subtract the break before multiplying by your hourly wage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the 9-to-5 day include a lunch break?
The clock span from 9 AM to 5 PM is 8 hours regardless of breaks. If you take an unpaid 30-minute lunch, your paid working time is 7 hours 30 minutes.
How many minutes are between 9 AM and 5 PM?
480 minutes — 8 hours multiplied by 60. The calculator also shows the total in seconds: 28,800 for this span.
What if my end time is earlier than my start time?
Keep the assume-next-day option enabled and the calculator adds 24 hours before subtracting, so overnight spans like 10 PM to 6 AM compute correctly.
How do I enter 5 PM in the calculator?
Use 24-hour format: 5 PM is 17:00. Most browsers show a built-in time picker, so you can pick the time from a clock face instead of typing.