Break Time Calculator
Enter your shift length and break details to see how many hours you're actually paid for.
Your details
Short rest breaks are usually paid and don't reduce your hours.
Results update as you type.
8 hrs
Paid hours for this shift
- Shift length
- 8.5 hrs
- Unpaid break time
- 30m
- Paid break time
- 0m
- Paid hours
- 8 hrs
- Share of shift unpaid
- 5.9%
How this calculator works
- 1Unpaid break minutes are multiplied by the number of breaks.
- 2That total is converted to hours and subtracted from the shift length.
- 3Paid rest breaks are listed separately because they don't reduce paid time.
Formula
Paid hours = Shift hours − (Unpaid breaks × Minutes each ÷ 60)
Worked example
- An 8.5-hour shift with one 30-minute unpaid lunch.
- 30 minutes is 0.5 hours of unpaid time.
- You are paid for 8.00 hours.
What we assume
- Break rules differ by state and by employer policy.
- Bona fide meal periods are generally unpaid; short rest breaks are generally paid.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to be paid for lunch?
Generally no, if you are fully relieved of duty for a bona fide meal period. If you work through lunch, that time is normally payable.
Are 15-minute breaks paid?
Short rest breaks are usually treated as paid work time under federal rules.
Do breaks count toward overtime?
Paid break time counts toward hours worked and therefore toward overtime. Unpaid meal time does not.
Results are estimates based on the information you provide and may differ from your actual paycheck. This calculator is for informational and planning purposes and is not tax, payroll, legal, or financial advice.