Layover Time Calculator
Is Your Connection Actually Long Enough?
A layover looks fine on paper until you subtract the walk to a different terminal, a security recheck, or an immigration queue. This calculator does the basic arithmetic — converting two clock times into a duration — and flags connections short enough to be genuinely risky, so the number in front of you means something beyond "the app says 55 minutes."
The Formula
Times are entered in 24-hour HH:MM format so there's no ambiguity between morning and evening connections.
Typical Minimum Connection Times
Airports and airlines publish a Minimum Connection Time (MCT) — the shortest gap they'll sell as a valid connection. These vary by airport, terminal layout, and whether a border is crossed, but the general bands are well known to frequent travelers:
| Connection type | Typical minimum |
|---|---|
| Domestic to domestic, same terminal | 30–45 minutes |
| Domestic to domestic, different terminal | 45–60 minutes |
| Domestic to international | 60–90 minutes |
| International to international | 75–120 minutes or more |
These are general industry norms, not a guarantee for any specific airport — always check the minimum connection time published by the airline or airport for your itinerary.
Where This Calculation Matters
- Booking connecting flights — deciding whether a self-transfer itinerary (booked as two separate tickets) leaves a safe enough gap.
- Overnight layovers — the next-day option correctly rolls the duration past midnight instead of returning a negative number.
- Airport time budgeting — deciding whether there's time to clear a lounge visit, a meal, or a terminal change.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the Arrival Time of your inbound flight in HH:MM, 24-hour format.
- Enter the Departure Time of your onward flight, also in HH:MM.
- Choose whether the departure is on the same day or the next day.
- Select Calculate to see the layover length in hours and minutes, with a warning if it's under 45 minutes.
Related Calculations
Pair this with the Flight Time Calculator to work out both legs of a connecting itinerary, or use the Travel Time Zone Calculator if your connection crosses time zones.