Use this break time calculator to find out exactly how long your break should be based on your shift length. Enter your start time, end time, and number of breaks, and get your net work hours instantly.
No formulas. No guesswork. Just your numbers
Break Time Calculator
Calculate your shift length, break time, and net work hours instantly.
Your breaks
Add each break and mark whether it is paid or unpaid.
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Recommended break guide
These are general planning guidelines, not legal advice. Actual break entitlements depend on your location, industry, age, employment agreement, and applicable labor laws.
Break rules by country
United States
Federal law does not generally require meal or rest breaks for adult workers. Qualifying short breaks of 20 minutes or less are generally paid when provided. State rules can be stricter.
Check U.S. Department of Labor guidance
United Kingdom
Workers generally have a right to one uninterrupted 20-minute rest break when working more than 6 hours, subject to the rules and exceptions that apply to their situation.
Check GOV.UK rest break guidance
Canada
Break requirements are primarily governed by provincial or territorial rules. Common examples include a 30-minute break after 5 consecutive hours, but the exact rule varies.
Australia
Breaks can depend on the Fair Work Act, applicable Modern Award, enterprise agreement, and employment circumstances. Check the award or agreement that covers your job.
Example: 8:00 AM–5:00 PM is a 9-hour shift. With a 30-minute unpaid break, net work time is 8 hours 30 minutes.
How to Use This Break Time Calculator
Enter your shift start time and end time. Select how many breaks you are taking and the duration of each one. The calculator shows your total shift duration, total break time, and actual hours worked after breaks are deducted.
If you need to track your full week across multiple shifts, use our timecard calculator alongside this tool.
How Long Should Your Break Be?
Your break entitlement depends directly on how many hours you work. Here is the general guideline used across most workplaces:
| Hours Worked | Recommended Break Time |
| Less than 4 hours | No break required |
| 4 to 6 hours | 15 minutes |
| 6 to 8 hours | 30 minutes |
| 8 to 10 hours | 45 to 60 minutes |
| 10 hours or more | Two breaks of 30 minutes each |
These are general guidelines. Your actual entitlement depends on your country, state, and employer. Keep reading for the legal rules that apply to your location.
Break Time Laws by Country
Break rules vary significantly depending on where you work. Here is an accurate breakdown of the major regions.
United States
The Fair Labor Standards Act does not require employers to provide any breaks at all. That surprises most workers. Federal law only governs how breaks are paid, not whether you get them.
Here is what the FLSA does say:
| Break Type | Duration | Must Be Paid? |
| Short rest break | 5 to 20 minutes | Yes — always |
| Meal break | 30 minutes or more | No — if fully relieved of duties |
| Working lunch | Any length | Yes — if you remain on duty |
Your actual break entitlement comes from your state law, not federal law. And state rules vary dramatically.
| State | Meal Break Rule | Rest Break Rule |
| California | 30 min unpaid after 5 hours | Paid 10 min per 4 hours worked |
| New York | 30 min unpaid after 6 hours | No state rest break requirement |
| Washington | 30 min unpaid after 5 hours | Paid 10 min per 4 hours worked |
| Texas | No requirement | No requirement |
| Florida | No requirement for adults | No requirement |
| Illinois | 20 min unpaid after 7.5 hours | No state rest break requirement |
Important: Roughly half of US states have zero break requirements for adult employees. If your state is not listed above, check your state labor board directly. Your employer’s policy or union contract may give you more than the legal minimum.
United Kingdom
In the UK, break entitlements are governed by the Working Time Regulations 1998. The rules are clear and legally enforceable.
| Shift Length | Break Entitlement | Paid or Unpaid |
| Up to 6 hours | No statutory break | — |
| More than 6 hours | 20-minute uninterrupted break | Usually unpaid |
| Under 18 years old | 30-minute break after 4.5 hours | Unpaid |
A few things worth knowing:
The 20-minute break must be taken during the working day, not at the start or end of your shift. Your employer sets when you take it.
Whether this break is paid or unpaid depends on your contract. The law does not require it to be paid, but many employers pay it anyway. Check your contract.
If your employer denies your statutory break, they are in breach of the Working Time Regulations, and you can raise a formal grievance or employment tribunal claim.
For full details, see the official guidance at UK rest breaks at work on the GOV. UK government website.
Canada
Canada’s break rules are set at the provincial level, not federally. Most provinces follow a very similar standard.
| Province | Meal Break Rule | Paid or Unpaid |
| Ontario | 30 min after every 5 consecutive hours | Unpaid |
| British Columbia | 30 min after 5 consecutive hours | Unpaid |
| Alberta | 30 min after 5 consecutive hours | Unpaid |
| Quebec | 30 min after 5 consecutive hours | Unpaid |
| Federal workplaces | 30 min after every 5 consecutive hours | Unpaid |
A few important details:
In most provinces, if your employer requires you to stay available during your break to answer calls or remain on site, that break becomes paid time regardless of its length.
Ontario, Alberta, and BC all allow the 30-minute break to be split into two 15-minute breaks if both the employer and employee agree in writing.
Note: New Brunswick is the only Canadian province that does not expressly require meal breaks for adult employees. If you work in New Brunswick, check your employment contract or collective agreement.
Australia
Australia has no single national break law that applies to every worker. Break entitlements come from three sources: your Modern Award, your Enterprise Agreement, or your Employment Contract. The National Employment Standards set maximum weekly hours but say nothing about meal or rest breaks specifically.
Most Australian awards follow a similar pattern:
| Shift Length | Typical Meal Break | Typical Rest Break |
| Under 5 hours | No break required | No break required |
| 5 to 6 hours | 30 to 60 min unpaid | — |
| Over 6 hours | 30 to 60 min unpaid | ~10 min paid |
| Over 8 hours | 30 to 60 min unpaid | Two ~10 min paid breaks |
These are typical award conditions, not a fixed legal rule. Your specific award may give you more.
Common award examples:
| Industry | Meal Break Trigger |
| Retail | After 5 hours |
| Hospitality | After 5 hours |
| Healthcare | After 4.5 to 5 hours |
| Construction | After 5 hours |
Important: Always check your specific Modern Award on the Fair Work Ombudsman website at fairwork.gov.au. If you work through an unpaid break without agreement from your employer, they must pay you for that time.
Paid vs Unpaid Breaks: What Is the Difference?
This is where most workers get confused. Here is the simple version.
Paid breaks are short rest periods usually under 20 minutes, where you step away from work but stay on the clock. Your employer counts these hours as hours worked and pays you for them.
Unpaid breaks are longer meal periods, usually 30 minutes or more, where you are completely free from work duties. You are not on the clock. This time does not count toward your paid hours.
| Break Type | Duration | On the Clock? | Paid? |
| Rest break | Under 20 minutes | Yes | Yes |
| Meal break | 30 minutes or more | No | No |
| Working lunch | Any length | Yes | Yes |
The key rule that most employers get wrong: if you are asked to stay available, answer emails, monitor anything, or remain on the premises during your break, that break must be paid. The moment your employer puts a condition on your break, it becomes compensable work time.
How to Calculate Break Time Manually
If you want to work this out yourself, the formula is straightforward:
Net Work Hours = Total Shift Duration − Total Break Time
Example 1: Single break:
You work 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM with one 30-minute unpaid lunch break.
- Total shift = 9 hours
- Total break = 30 minutes (0.5 hours)
- Net work hours = 9 − 0.5 = 8.5 hours
Example 2: Multiple breaks:
You work 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM with a 30-minute lunch and a 15-minute rest break.
- Total shift = 9 hours
- Total breaks = 30 + 15 = 45 minutes (0.75 hours)
- Net work hours = 9 − 0.75 = 8.25 hours
For payroll, always convert minutes into decimal hours before calculating. Use our hours-to-minutes-to-decimal calculator to do this instantly without errors.
How Break Time Affects Your Pay
This is where most workers lose money without realising it.
If you work an 8-hour shift with a 30-minute unpaid break, you are only being paid for 7.5 hours. Over a 5-day week, that is 2.5 hours of unpaid time, roughly 10 hours a month.
At $20 per hour, that is $200 a month you are not being paid for. Understanding your break rules is not just compliance; it is money in your pocket.
Once you know your net hours, check whether any of those hours push you into overtime territory. Use our time-and-a-half calculator to calculate exactly what your overtime hours are worth.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many breaks do I get in an 8-hour shift?
In most US states, the UK, Canada, and Australia, an 8-hour shift entitles you to one 30-minute unpaid meal break. California workers also get two paid 10-minute rest breaks in an 8-hour shift, one before and one after the meal break. Washington state follows the same rule as California. Check your state or award for your specific entitlement.
Is a 30-minute lunch break paid or unpaid?
A 30-minute lunch break is almost always unpaid, provided you are completely free from work duties during that time. If your employer asks you to stay available, answer calls, monitor emails, or remain at your desk during lunch, that time must be paid regardless of what your contract says.
Can my employer skip my break?
In most regions, breaks are a legal entitlement, not a privilege. In the UK, skipping a statutory break is a breach of the Working Time Regulations. In California, a missed meal break means your employer owes you one hour of premium pay. In Canada, denying a required break can trigger a complaint to the provincial employment standards office. Know your rights.
How long should a break be for a 6-hour shift?
It depends on your location. In the UK, a 6-hour shift gets no statutory break; the entitlement kicks in only when you exceed 6 hours. In California, a 6-hour shift triggers a 30-minute meal break after 5 hours. In Canada and most Australian awards, a 30-minute break applies after 5 consecutive hours, so a 6-hour shift includes a break. Check your local rules.
What is the minimum break between shifts?
It depends on where you work. In the UK, the Working Time Regulations give every worker a legal right to 11 consecutive hours of rest between shifts. In Australia, most awards require 10 to 12 hours between shifts depending on your industry. In the US, there is no federal minimum; your state law, union agreement, or employment contract determines this. In Canada, Ontario requires 11 hours between shifts under the Employment Standards Act.
How do I calculate net work hours after breaks?
Subtract your total break time from your total shift duration. Convert everything to decimal hours first for accuracy. For example, a 9-hour shift minus 45 minutes of breaks equals 8 hours 15 minutes, which is 8.25 decimal hours. Use our hours-to-minutes-to-decimal calculator to convert instantly.
Do short breaks have to be paid?
In the US, yes, federal law requires any break under 20 minutes to be paid. This applies in every state regardless of local law. In the UK, the law does not specify payment for short breaks; it depends on your contract. In Australia, paid rest breaks of around 10 minutes are required under most Modern Awards. Check your award or contract for the exact rule.