How Many Hours Is a 12-Hour Shift With Breaks?
A 12-hour shift span covers 12 hours between start and finish. Net working time is lower if the shift includes unpaid breaks. First establish whether the schedule means 12 hours on site or 12 paid hours.
Practical timekeeping guide · ShiftHours
Calculate a 12-hour span
A shift from 6 AM to 6 PM spans 12 hours. Subtract a 30-minute unpaid lunch to get 11 hours 30 minutes net; subtract a 60-minute unpaid lunch to get 11 hours net.
The example is about time arithmetic only. Whether a break is paid depends on the applicable policy and rules.
Distinguish span from paid hours
If a job schedules 12 paid hours and adds an unpaid 30-minute meal break, the total time between arrival and departure could be 12 hours 30 minutes. Check the roster or employment agreement for how the shift is defined.
Never infer paid time solely from the shift label.
Keep accurate records
Long shifts can include several breaks, handovers, or time crossing midnight. Record start and end times and each unpaid break so the net total can be checked.
For an overnight 12-hour shift, use the overnight option or record the next-day end date.
Calculate your shift
Use the ShiftHours calculator for the elapsed time and break adjustment. If you need a weekly total, add each shift in the weekly calculator.
Use the free ShiftHours work hours calculator to calculate shift length, subtract unpaid breaks, and view decimal hours. For weekly totals, try the weekly calculator.
Example: a 12-hour shift
A shift from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM spans 12 hours. Subtracting a 45-minute unpaid break leaves 11 hours and 15 minutes, which is 11.25 decimal hours. A 12-hour scheduled shift therefore does not always equal 12 paid hours.
Related resources
Open the work hours calculator · Browse all ShiftHours articles · Decimal hours chart