Business Hours Calculator
Calculate the exact number of working hours between any two dates. Perfect for project planning, billing calculations, and tracking billable hours.
Flexible Hours
Customize daily working hours from standard 8-hour days to any schedule you need.
Business Days Only
Automatically excludes weekends to calculate actual working hours.
Week Breakdown
See results in total hours, full weeks, and partial days for better planning.
How to Calculate Business Hours
Our business hours calculator determines the total working hours between two dates by counting only business days (Monday-Friday) and multiplying by your specified hours per day. You can customize the daily work schedule from the standard 8 hours to match your actual working hours, whether it's 7.5, 9, or any other duration.
Why Calculate Business Hours?
- • Project Estimation: Accurately estimate time needed for project completion
- • Billing & Invoicing: Calculate billable hours for client projects
- • Resource Planning: Allocate team hours and manage workload
- • Cost Calculation: Determine labor costs based on hourly rates
- • Deadline Setting: Set realistic deadlines based on available work hours
- • Time Tracking: Monitor actual vs. estimated hours for projects
- • Capacity Planning: Understand team availability and bandwidth
Standard Business Hours by Industry
| Industry | Typical Hours/Day | Weekly Total |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate Office | 8 hours (9-5) | 40 hours |
| Government | 7.5 hours | 37.5 hours |
| Healthcare (Admin) | 8-10 hours | 40-50 hours |
| Legal/Consulting | 9-10 hours | 45-50 hours |
| Retail Management | 8-9 hours | 40-45 hours |
| Part-time | 4-6 hours | 20-30 hours |
Billable vs. Non-Billable Hours
When calculating business hours for client billing, remember to distinguish between:
- • Billable Hours: Time spent directly on client work
- • Non-Billable Hours: Administrative tasks, meetings, training
- • Utilization Rate: Typically 70-80% of total work hours are billable
Business Hours Calculation Examples
2-Week Sprint
Duration: 10 business days
Hours/day: 8 hours
Total: 80 working hours
Monthly Project
Duration: 22 business days
Hours/day: 7.5 hours
Total: 165 working hours
Quarterly Initiative
Duration: 65 business days
Hours/day: 8 hours
Total: 520 working hours
Part-time Contract
Duration: 20 business days
Hours/day: 4 hours
Total: 80 working hours
Tips for Accurate Hour Tracking
Account for holidays: Remember to subtract public holidays from your calculation for more accurate estimates.
Include buffer time: Add 10-20% buffer for unexpected delays and revisions.
Consider time zones: For remote teams, clarify which time zone's business hours apply.
Track actual vs. estimated: Compare your estimates with actual hours to improve future planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I account for lunch breaks?
If you work 9-5 with a 1-hour lunch break, enter 7 hours per day rather than 8. This gives you the actual productive hours.
Does the calculator include public holidays?
No, the calculator counts all weekdays as business days. Manually subtract public holidays from your total for more accurate results.
Can I calculate hours for shift work?
Yes! Simply adjust the hours per day to match your shift length, whether it's 12-hour shifts, night shifts, or any other schedule.
How do I calculate overtime hours?
First calculate regular hours (e.g., 8 hours/day), then separately calculate any additional hours worked beyond the standard schedule.
What about partial days at the start or end?
The calculator assumes full days. For partial days, calculate the full period and then manually adjust for the actual start/end times.