Time Addition Calculator: Add Hours and Minutes

A Time Addition Calculator is a simple online tool that allows you to add two or more time values together. Whether you are trying to calculate the total working hours, combine time periods, track time for projects or see how long several activities take, this calculator can help!

Manually adding up time can get complicated as there are multiple units to consider. In contrast to simple decimals, time has to be added according to specific rules. There are 60 seconds in a minute and 60 minutes in an hour so conversions will be needed.

For example;

2 hours 45 minutes + 1 hour 30 minutes = 4 hours 15 minutes

The CostCalco Time Addition Calculator allows you to easily add up the time you input. Any additional minutes or seconds will be converted automatically.

This tool can be used by students, employees, freelancers, business owners or project managers in the United States.

You can use this tool to add up working shifts, studying periods, exercise times, travelling activities and time periods.

How to use the Time Addition Calculator

To use this calculator simply follow the steps below to calculate the total time.

• Input the first time period.
• Input any further time periods.
• If you have several time periods to add select the option to further add more times.
• Click the calculate button.

The calculator will automatically add up the time. The total time will be shown in hours, minutes and seconds.

To start again clear the current values.

Example

Let’s say you want to add;

First time period: 2 hours, 35 minutes, 20 seconds

Second time period: 1 hour, 45 minutes and 50 seconds

The calculator will add the times together and give;

Total: 4 hours, 21 minutes, 10 seconds

There is no need to convert seconds to minutes or minutes to hours manually.

Time Addition Calculator Formula

When adding up time you need to add up the hours, minutes and seconds. Conversions will be needed for any values over 60.

The basic formula is;

H total = ΣH

M total = ΣM

S total = ΣS

Where;

\\(H\\) = Hours

\\(M\\) = Minutes

\\(S\\) = Seconds

Once you have added the values you will need to normalise using the formulas below.

Convert extra seconds to minutes.

M extra = floor(S total / 60)

S remaining = S total mod 60

Convert extra minutes to hours.

H extra = floor((M total + M extra) / 60)

M remaining = (M total + M extra) mod 60

Calculate final hours.

H final = H total + H extra

The answer will be shown in;

Hours : Minutes : Seconds

This ensures the answer will be correctly formatted.

Example

Let’s look at some examples to understand how to add time periods.

Example 1 – Adding 2 time periods

Let’s say we want to add;

First time period: 2 hours, 25 minutes, 40 seconds

Second time period: 1 hour, 40 minutes and 35 seconds

Add Seconds

40 + 35 = 75 seconds

75 seconds = 1 minute 15 seconds.

Add Minutes

25 + 40 + 1 = 66 minutes

66 minutes = 1 hour 6 minutes.

Add Hours

2 + 1 + 1 = 4 hours.

Answer

4 hours, 6 minutes, 15 seconds

Example 2 – Adding several work periods

Let’s say an employee is working;

Work Period Duration

Morning 3 hours 45 minutes

Afternoon 4 hours 30 minutes

Evening 1 hour 50 minutes

Add Hours

3 + 4 + 1 = 8 hours.

Add Minutes

45 + 30 + 50 = 125 minutes.

125 minutes = 2 hours 5 minutes.

Combine the totals;

8 + 2 = 10 hours.

Answer

10 hours and 5 minutes.

Example 3 – Adding time with seconds.

Let’s say you wanted to add two videos;

Video 1: 00:12:45

Video 2: 00:18:35

Add Seconds

45 + 35 = 80 seconds = 1 minute 20 seconds.

Add Minutes

\\(M\\)0 minutes.

Answer: 00:31:20

This shows how time periods can be added for everyday activities, working periods and digital media.

Understanding your result

The Time Addition Calculator will show you the total time of all the time periods you input.

Understanding your answer will help.

Time Periods Total Time

1 hour 30 minutes + 2 hours 15 minutes 3 hours 45 minutes

2 hours 45 minutes + 1 hour 30 minutes 4 hours 15 minutes

45 minutes + 35 minutes 1 hour 20 minutes

30 seconds + 45 seconds 1 minute 15 seconds

3 hours 20 minutes + 2 hours 50 minutes 6 hours 10 minutes

• Hours – Shows the total number of hours after any extra minutes have been converted.
• Minutes – Shows any remaining minutes after all full 60 minutes have been converted to hours.
• Seconds – Shows any remaining seconds after all full 60 seconds have been converted to minutes.

For example, if you received an answer of 5:35:20 this would mean 5 hours, 35 minutes and 20 seconds.

Remember that the calculator will show you the total duration of time. If you want to know what time of day something will be after adding a period of time you will also need to consider what time it started at. This will also depend on whether it goes past midnight.

What affects your result?

There are several things that can affect your result.

Number of time periods

The more time periods you input the higher your total will be.

Hours, minutes and seconds

Each of these will affect your result. If you input the wrong minutes or seconds this could drastically change your answer.

Time conversions

Time is based on 60. Every 60 seconds will convert to 1 minute and every 60 minutes will convert to 1 hour.

No values

If there are no seconds or minutes in a certain time period then it should be input as 0.

Correct formatting

Time should be input in the correct format. For example, 02:45:30 will usually mean 2 hours, 45 minutes and 30 seconds.

Starting time and midnight

Adding time is not the same as working out time. If you are adding a period of time to a starting time then your answer may go into the next day.

Time zones and daylight savings

If you are calculating how long something took then you don’t need to consider time zones. If however you are calculating actual times in the United States during daylight savings then your local time may lose or gain an hour.

Benefits and uses of a Time Addition Calculator

A Time Addition Calculator can be very useful in many situations.

Working hours

Employees can combine their working periods throughout the day. Employers and supervisors can also use this.

Payroll

Businesses can add up the time periods recorded and convert to payroll. This can be helpful when looking at timesheets and overtime.

Studying

Students can combine their studying periods, exam revision and class times.

Project management

Project managers can calculate how much time was spent on different tasks, meetings etc.

Sports and fitness

Athletes and fitness enthusiasts can add up their running, working out, swimming etc.

Editing videos/audio

Content creators can combine their video clips, audio recordings and editing time.

Travelling

Travelers can add up their driving, flights, waiting etc.

Everyday use

You can combine time periods for household activities, cooking, reading etc.

Accuracy, assumptions and limitations

The Time Addition Calculator will give you accurate results if the values you input are valid and the calculator is using the correct time conversion rules.

However please note;

• Elapsed time – Adding time will give you the total time elapsed. This will not give you a date or time unless you input a starting time.
• Valid values – Minutes and seconds should be between 0 and 59.
• Correct formatting – Make sure you have input the correct time in the right boxes.
• Rounding – If you had fractions of seconds in your original time this may depend on the calculator.
• Time zones – Time zones won’t automatically be included.
• Daylight savings – If you are calculating actual times during daylight savings you will need additional information.
• Payroll – The calculator will add up the time periods but won’t automatically tell you if you are eligible for overtime, if there were unpaid breaks or what the company’s payroll rules are.

Always check the relevant rules and rounding for your workplace if using for payroll.

FAQs

What is a Time Addition Calculator?

A Time Addition Calculator is an online tool that can add several time periods together. The calculator will automatically convert any extra seconds to minutes and extra minutes to hours. The total will be shown in hours, minutes and seconds.

How do I add hours and minutes?

Simply input the hours and minutes from your time periods and click calculate. The calculator will add the time together and convert every 60 minutes to an extra hour. For example, 2 hours 45 minutes + 1 hour 30 minutes = 4 hours 15 minutes.

Can I add seconds?

Yes! You can add seconds to your time periods. Any time you have 60 seconds or more will be converted into minutes. For example, 45 seconds + 35 seconds = 1 minute 20 seconds.

Can I use this to calculate my working hours?

Yes you can. Simply input several working periods and the calculator will add them together. Please note that unpaid breaks, overtime and payroll should be handled separately.

What is the difference between time addition and time duration?

Time addition is adding 2 or more time periods together to find the total. Time duration is finding how much time has passed between a start time and end time. For example, 2 hours 30 minutes + 1 hour = 3 hours 30 minutes. Whereas 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM would be 3 hours.