Understand the result
How to use the break deduction calculator
Use this focused calculator when you only need to remove unpaid time from one shift. Combine lunch and other unpaid breaks into one minute total, then compare paid hours in standard and decimal formats.
Formula
Paid time = total shift duration − unpaid lunch and break minutes.
Worked examples
Thirty-minute lunch
A shift from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM lasts 8.5 hours. Subtract 30 minutes to get 8 paid hours.
Two unpaid breaks
A 30-minute lunch plus a 15-minute unpaid break equals 45 minutes to deduct.
Overnight example
From 11:00 PM to 7:30 AM is 8.5 hours; subtracting 30 minutes leaves 8 paid hours.
Quick break deduction table
| Shift length | Unpaid break | Paid time | Decimal hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 h 00 min | 30 min | 7 h 30 min | 7.50 |
| 8 h 30 min | 30 min | 8 h 00 min | 8.00 |
| 9 h 00 min | 30 min | 8 h 30 min | 8.50 |
| 9 h 00 min | 60 min | 8 h 00 min | 8.00 |
| 10 h 00 min | 30 min | 9 h 30 min | 9.50 |
| 10 h 00 min | 45 min | 9 h 15 min | 9.25 |
| 12 h 00 min | 30 min | 11 h 30 min | 11.50 |
| 12 h 00 min | 60 min | 11 h 00 min | 11.00 |
Which breaks are paid?
Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, short breaks of roughly 5 to 20 minutes are counted as paid working time. A meal period, usually 30 minutes or longer, can be unpaid only if you are fully relieved of work. If you eat at your desk while answering calls, that time generally counts as work.
Federal law doesn't require employers to give breaks at all, but several states do. California, for example, generally requires a 30-minute meal break for shifts over five hours. Check your state labor department for the rules where you work.
Frequently asked questions
Should I include paid breaks?
No. Deduct only time your employer treats as unpaid.
Can I add more than one break?
Yes. Add all unpaid break minutes and enter the combined total.
Does it support overnight shifts?
Yes. An earlier end time is interpreted as the following day.
Can I use the result for payroll?
Use it as a check, then follow your employer’s rounding and payroll policies.
Is a 15-minute break paid?
Generally yes. Under federal rules, short breaks of about 5 to 20 minutes count as working time and must be paid.
Is a 30-minute lunch break paid?
Usually not, as long as you are fully relieved of duties. If you have to keep working or stay on call, the time generally counts as paid work.
How many hours is 9 hours minus a 1-hour lunch?
8 paid hours.
Assumptions and limitations
Results depend on the values entered and are educational estimates. Pay figures exclude taxes, deductions and benefits. Workplace rules, rounding practices and legal requirements vary by location and employer.