How to Subtract Lunch Breaks from Work Hours

To subtract a lunch break from work hours, calculate the full time between clock-in and clock-out, then subtract the minutes that are unpaid under your workplace policy. The result is net time for the shift.

Practical timekeeping guide · ShiftHours

A simple example

If you clock in at 9:00 AM and leave at 5:30 PM, the shift spans 8 hours and 30 minutes. Subtract a 30-minute unpaid lunch and the net work time is 8 hours.

In minutes, the span is 510 minutes. Subtract 30 minutes to get 480 minutes, then divide by 60 to get 8 hours.

What if lunch is 45 or 60 minutes?

For the same 8-hour-30-minute span, a 45-minute unpaid break leaves 7 hours and 45 minutes. A 60-minute unpaid break leaves 7 hours and 30 minutes. The calculation depends on the actual unpaid break duration, not just the time scheduled for lunch.

Enter break duration in minutes when using the calculator. If a break is paid, do not subtract it unless your policy says otherwise.

Multiple breaks in one shift

If a shift has a 30-minute unpaid lunch and a 15-minute unpaid break, total unpaid break time is 45 minutes. Subtract the combined unpaid minutes from the elapsed shift duration. Keep paid rest periods separate if they count as paid time.

For accurate records, note each break and its status. Policies and legal requirements vary, so confirm which breaks are paid or unpaid in your situation.

Avoid common errors

Do not subtract a lunch break twice, and do not automatically assume every lunch is unpaid. For overnight shifts, calculate the full duration across midnight first, then subtract the break.

Related: how long an 8-hour shift takes with lunch and the work hours calculator.

Related resources

Open the work hours calculator · Browse all ShiftHours articles · Decimal hours chart