Field guide
How to calculate work hours after an unpaid lunch
Step-by-step guide to calculate work hours after an unpaid lunch break. Separate time on site from paid time, with a worked example for U.S. hourly workers.
Reviewed 2026-09-12 · Shift Ledger
Start with the full shift
Write down the start and finish time with AM or PM. A 9:00 AM start and 5:30 PM finish spans 8 hours 30 minutes, or 510 minutes. If the shift crosses midnight, include both dates.
Subtract only unpaid time
A 30-minute unpaid lunch leaves 510 − 30 = 480 paid minutes. A paid rest break stays included. If your schedule has several unpaid breaks, add their minutes before subtracting. Whether a particular break is paid depends on the applicable policy and rules; the tool does not decide that.
Read both forms of the answer
480 ÷ 60 = 8.00 decimal hours. The exact result is 8 hours 0 minutes. Keep the exact minute total for a weekly timecard rather than repeatedly rounding the decimal display.
Avoid subtracting the same break twice
If you enter 9:00 AM–12:00 PM and 12:30 PM–5:30 PM as separate periods, the half-hour gap is already excluded. Adding another 30-minute deduction would undercount the day. Use one continuous shift with a break deduction, or separate worked periods.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to take an unpaid lunch break?
It depends on your employer's policy and applicable state rules. Federal law does not require unpaid lunch breaks, but many employers require them. Check your employee handbook or ask HR.
How do I calculate hours if I take two 15-minute breaks?
If both breaks are paid, you do not subtract them. If one or both are unpaid, add their minutes together and subtract from your total time on site.
Does a paid 30-minute lunch count toward overtime?
It depends. Under the FLSA, a bona fide meal period of 30 minutes or more where you are completely relieved of duties is not hours worked, even if paid (DOL Fact Sheet 56A). If you perform any work duties during a paid lunch, those minutes count toward your total. Short rest breaks under 20 minutes are always hours worked. The calculator simply adds or subtracts the minutes you enter � it does not classify whether a break is paid or unpaid.
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Found an issue? Contact the maintainer with the example and expected result. Please omit personal timecards.