How to Calculate Overnight and Split Shifts

Calculate elapsed work time accurately when a shift crosses midnight or contains two work segments and unpaid breaks.

Key point

Treat each shift segment as a start and end timestamp. If an end time is earlier than its start time, move the end into the next calendar day, then subtract only valid unpaid breaks.

Keep the calendar date with every time entry.
Calculate each split segment separately before adding them.
Assign hours to the statutory workday and workweek defined by the governing rule.

Overnight example

A shift from 10:00 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. lasts 8.5 elapsed hours. After a 30-minute unpaid break, net worked time is 8.0 hours. Do not subtract 22:00 from 06:30 without advancing the date.

Split-shift example

Add 7:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. as two four-hour segments. The unpaid gap is not worked time. Keep any paid reporting or split-shift premium separate.

Workday and overtime boundaries

An employer’s established workday may not reset at midnight. Daily overtime and minimum-rest rules can therefore require more than a clock-duration calculation.

Related WageWise resources

Official sources

Rules can change and special occupations, agreements or facts can alter the result. Confirm the current official rule for the jurisdiction where the work is performed.