Meal & rest breaks • state-aware
Break Time Calculator
See exactly what meal and rest breaks are required for any shift — based on your state’s labor laws. Get a ready-to-share schedule in seconds.
Enables a suggested break schedule.
Required breaks
For 8 hours worked in California
Meets California Labor Code meal & rest break rules.
- 30m30-minute meal breakUnpaid · Meal break
- 10m10-minute rest breakPaid · Rest break
- 10m10-minute rest breakPaid · Rest break
Total break time
50m
Unpaid (meal)
30m
Net work time
7h 30m
Suggested schedule
- 9:00 AMStart shift
- 11:08 AM30-minute meal breakunpaid
- 1:45 PM10-minute rest breakpaid
- 4:03 PM10-minute rest breakpaid
- 5:30 PMEnd shift
About California rules
- •California requires a 30-minute unpaid meal break after 5 hours, and a second one after 10 hours.
- •Paid 10-minute rest breaks are required per 4 hours worked (or major fraction thereof).
- •Meal breaks can be waived by mutual consent for shifts of 6 hours or less.
13 states supported
Instant schedule
Copy / print ready
Free — no signup
How to use the Break Time Calculator
Four short steps to a complete break schedule for any employee.
1
Enter shift times
Set the start and end time of the shift. Overnight shifts are supported.
2
Select your state
Pick the state the work is performed in. Federal default applies if your state isn’t listed.
3
Review the rules
See exactly how many meal and rest breaks are required for the shift length.
4
Copy the schedule
Copy the suggested timeline and share it with your team or HR.
Break requirements by state
Summary of meal and rest break rules for the most common U.S. jurisdictions. Always confirm current law with your state’s labor board.
| State | Meal break | Rest break | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal (FLSA) | Not required | Not required | No federal law requires meal or rest breaks for adults. Many employers offer them voluntarily. |
| California | 30 min after 5 hrs; 2nd 30 min after 10 hrs | 10 min per 4 hrs (paid) | Missed meal = 1 hour premium pay. Missed rest = 1 hour premium pay. |
| New York | 30 min for shifts > 6 hrs | Not required | Factory workers: 60-minute meal period. Break rules vary by industry. |
| Washington | 30 min after 5 hrs | 10 min per 4 hrs (paid) | Rest break cannot be at very start or end of shift. |
| Oregon | 30 min for shifts over 6 hrs | 10 min per 4 hrs (paid) | Breaks should be scheduled near the middle of each 4-hour segment. |
| Colorado | 30 min for shifts over 5 hrs | 10 min per 4 hrs (paid) | Applies to retail, food service, health/medical, and other covered industries. |
| Illinois | 20 min for shifts 7.5+ hrs | Not required (general) | Hotel room attendants: 30 min meal + two 15-minute breaks in 7-hour shift. |
| Kentucky | Reasonable meal period between 3rd and 5th hour | 10 min per 4 hrs (paid) | Meal period timing is mandatory, length is not specified in statute. |
| Minnesota | Sufficient time within each 8-hour shift | Bathroom break every 4 hrs | Law guarantees access to bathroom facilities, not a timed rest period. |
| Nevada | 30 min for shifts 8+ hrs | 10 min per 4 hrs (paid) | Does not apply to employees covered by a CBA or sole employees at a worksite. |
| Delaware | 30 min after first 2 hrs, before last 2 hrs | Not required | Required for employees working 7.5+ consecutive hours. |
| Massachusetts | 30 min for shifts over 6 hrs | Not required | Meal period is unpaid unless employee must remain on duty. |
| Maine | 30 min after 6 consecutive hrs | Not required | Does not apply to emergency situations or businesses with fewer than 3 employees on duty. |
Last reviewed: Q2 2026. Minors, tipped workers, and certain industries (trucking, healthcare) may have different rules.
Paid vs unpaid breaks
Knowing which breaks count as hours worked is essential for correct payroll.
Rest breaks (paid)
- Typically 10–15 minutes in length.
- Worker stays on the clock — counts as hours worked.
- Cannot be combined with meal breaks or skipped to leave early.
- Must be taken roughly in the middle of each work period.
Meal breaks (unpaid)
- Usually 30 minutes or longer.
- Worker must clock out and be fully relieved of duty.
- If required to stay on site or respond to calls, must be paid.
- Some states require a meal break after 5 or 6 hours.
Sample 8-hour schedules
Different starting times, same structure: one unpaid meal + two paid rest breaks.
Day shift (9am–5pm)
- 9:00 amClock in
- 11:00 amRest break (10 min, paid)
- 1:00 pmMeal break (30 min, unpaid)
- 3:30 pmRest break (10 min, paid)
- 5:00 pmClock out
Swing shift (3pm–11pm)
- 3:00 pmClock in
- 5:00 pmRest break (10 min, paid)
- 7:00 pmMeal break (30 min, unpaid)
- 9:30 pmRest break (10 min, paid)
- 11:00 pmClock out
Night shift (11pm–7am)
- 11:00 pmClock in
- 1:00 amRest break (10 min, paid)
- 3:00 amMeal break (30 min, unpaid)
- 5:30 amRest break (10 min, paid)
- 7:00 amClock out
Breaks by shift length
Roughly what to expect for a standard California-style shift (5h+ meal, 4h+ rest). Actual requirements vary by state.
| Shift length | Meal breaks | Rest breaks | Approx. paid time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 hours | 0 | 1 × 10 min | 4.00 hrs |
| 6 hours | 1 × 30 min | 1 × 10 min | 5.50 hrs |
| 8 hours | 1 × 30 min | 2 × 10 min | 7.50 hrs |
| 10 hours | 1 × 30 min | 2 × 10 min | 9.50 hrs |
| 12 hours | 2 × 30 min | 3 × 10 min | 11.00 hrs |
Employer responsibilities & employee rights
Both sides should understand the rules to avoid wage disputes and penalties.
Employer must
- Provide breaks as required by state law.
- Allow uninterrupted, duty-free meal periods.
- Post break rules in a visible location.
- Keep accurate records of breaks taken.
- Pay premium time when required breaks are missed.
- Not discourage or pressure workers to skip breaks.
Employee has the right to
- Take legally required breaks without penalty.
- Be fully off-duty during unpaid meal periods.
- File a complaint without retaliation.
- Receive premium pay for missed or interrupted breaks.
- Request schedule adjustments for medical or religious needs.
- View posted state labor-law notices.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to common questions about work break laws.
Are employers required to provide breaks by law?▾
Federal law does not require meal or rest breaks for adults. However, many states have their own laws. California, New York, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and several others require meal and/or rest breaks for most workers. Check your state’s Department of Labor for specifics.
What’s the difference between a paid and unpaid break?▾
Rest breaks (typically 10–15 minutes) are usually paid because the employee stays on the clock. Meal breaks (usually 30 minutes or longer) are generally unpaid — as long as the worker is fully relieved of duty. If the worker must remain available, the meal break must be paid.
What happens if my employer denies a required break?▾
If your state requires breaks and your employer denies them, you may be owed premium pay. In California, for example, employers owe one extra hour of pay for each missed meal or rest period. File a wage claim with your state labor board if your employer refuses to comply.
Do I have to clock out for a lunch break?▾
For unpaid meal breaks, yes — you should clock out and back in. This documents that you were fully relieved of duty. If your employer asks you to work through lunch while clocked out, that’s a wage violation.
How long does my shift need to be to qualify for a break?▾
It depends on your state. California requires a meal break after 5 hours. New York requires a meal break for shifts over 6 hours. Washington requires rest breaks every 4 hours. Use the calculator above and select your state for exact requirements.
Can I skip or waive my meal break?▾
In some states, yes. California allows employees to waive their meal break if the shift is 6 hours or less. A second meal break (required on shifts over 10 hours) can be waived if the shift is 12 hours or less and the first meal break was taken. Waivers typically must be in writing.
Do minors get different break rules?▾
Yes. Most states have stricter rules for workers under 18. For example, many states require a 30-minute break for minors after 5 consecutive hours, even where adults don’t have that protection. Check your state’s child labor laws.
Does the break calculator work for split shifts?▾
The calculator above treats your shift as one continuous period. For split shifts (e.g., 9am–1pm, then 5pm–9pm), calculate each segment separately. If a segment is under the state’s trigger, no break is required for that segment.
Are smoke breaks legally required?▾
No. No state requires smoke breaks. Rest breaks can be used for smoking, but employers may also prohibit smoking during paid rest periods. Most workplaces have a written smoking policy.
How do I convert break time into payroll hours?▾
Subtract unpaid break minutes from total hours worked, then divide by 60 to get decimal hours. For a quick way to do this use our Minutes to Decimal Calculator or the full Timesheet Calculator which handles breaks automatically.
Related calculators
Pair the break calculator with these other free tools for complete shift management.