Travel Calculators

Layover and connection time.

Enter the landing time of your first flight and the departure time of the next, each in its own airport time zone. See the actual elapsed layover, how much spare time you have over your minimum, and what a short or very long layover means. Runs in your browser.

Flights

Connection airport (where you land)

First flight lands, date (local)

First flight lands, time (local, 24 h)

Next flight departs from

Usually the same city as above. Change it if you switch airports or cities (a self-transfer).

Next flight departs, date (local)

Next flight departs, time (local, 24 h)

Minimum connection time you need, minutes

Airlines and airports set their own minimum connection times by airport, terminal change and international or domestic status. Use the figure on your booking, or your own buffer if you must collect and recheck bags.

Result

Fill the form and press Calculate.

Worked example

The first flight lands in Paris at 10:00 and the next leaves Paris at 11:30 the same day. Layover = 11:30 - 10:00 = 1 h 30 min. With a 60 minute minimum that leaves 30 min spare, which the tool marks as workable. Switch the second airport to another time zone and the layover is recalculated from real elapsed time, not from the clock readings.

How it works

Both times are converted to UTC using each airport's time zone, so a layover that spans a time zone change or a clock change is measured correctly. Layover = departure (UTC) - arrival (UTC). The status compares that with the minimum you enter: below it is too short, within 30 minutes above it is tight, 8 hours or more is long and 24 hours or more is a stopover.

The minimum connection time field is pre-filled with an editable 60-minute placeholder, not an official figure. Those are set by airlines and airports for each airport, terminal change and route type, and booking systems use them to decide whether to sell a connection. On a single ticket the airline normally protects a connection it sold; on separate tickets it does not, so allow more time.

Sources and basis (checked 2026-10-05): IANA Time Zone Database via the browser Intl API; arithmetic on the numbers you enter. Minimum connection times come from your airline or booking.

FAQ

What is a good layover time?

It depends on the airport, whether you change terminals, clear immigration or customs, and whether bags are checked through. Use the minimum on your booking as the floor and add a buffer for delays.

How do I calculate a layover across time zones?

Convert both times to the same zone (UTC) and subtract. This tool does that so a time zone change between flights does not distort the answer.

What is a minimum connection time?

The shortest time an airline or airport allows between arriving and departing flights for a booking to be sold as a connection. It varies by airport and route type.

What if I booked two separate tickets?

The second airline is not obliged to hold or rebook you if the first flight is late, so leave much more time, especially if you must collect and recheck bags or clear immigration.

Do I need a visa for a long layover?

It depends on the airport, your passport and whether you leave the transit area. Check the entry rules for the country before you book a long layover.