Enter shifts and unpaid lunch breaks as minutes or lunch-out/lunch-in times. See net hours and estimated pay.
01
Enter your shift’s start and end times.
02
Choose lunch minutes or lunch-out/lunch-in times.
03
Review net hours and mark any paid breaks in the day’s options.
THE QUICK ANSWER
How do you calculate work hours with lunch?
Work hours with lunch equal shift duration minus unpaid lunch minutes. A 9:00 AM–5:00 PM shift with a 30-minute unpaid lunch is 7 hours 30 minutes, or 7.5 decimal hours. A paid break is included in work hours.
Use Minutes when you know the total lunch duration. Use Out & in times when you have clock-in, lunch-out, lunch-in, and clock-out punches. Lunch intervals must sit within the shift. Add another break in a day’s options if you need multiple paid or unpaid breaks.
Common lunch deductions at a glance
These examples use an 8-hour shift with no clock rounding.
Common lunch deductions at a glance
Shift duration
Unpaid lunch
Net work hours
Decimal hours
8h 00m
0 min
8h 00m
8.00
8h 00m
30 min
7h 30m
7.50
8h 00m
45 min
7h 15m
7.25
8h 00m
60 min
7h 00m
7.00
Paid rest breaks and unpaid meals
Under U.S. federal rules, short rest breaks, usually 5–20 minutes, count as compensable work time. Bona fide meal periods, typically 30 minutes or more, can be unpaid when the employee is relieved of duties. Duration alone does not decide whether a break is unpaid; the circumstances and applicable rules matter. This tool does not automatically classify your breaks.
A daily lunch calculation or a full weekly report
Enter one shift for a daily hours calculator with lunch. Add the rest of the week for a time card, or switch to Biweekly for a two-week report. Only completed, valid entries can be exported. A break longer than the shift or overlapping break intervals is flagged for correction.
A LITTLE MORE CLARITY
Frequently asked questions
Should the calculator subtract 30 minutes automatically?+
No. Enter the lunch you actually took and confirm whether it was unpaid. Automatically subtracting a lunch that was worked would undercount hours.
Can I keep a lunch break in paid hours?+
Yes. Open that day’s Shift & break options and mark the first break as paid. Paid break minutes remain included in the total.
How do I use lunch-out and lunch-in times?+
Select Out & in times in Lunch input. Enter both break times along with clock-in and clock-out. The calculator validates that lunch occurs within the shift and deducts the interval only when it is unpaid.
Can I handle lunch and other breaks together?+
Yes. Each day supports extra breaks entered as minutes or time intervals. Set paid or unpaid separately for each break. Overlapping time intervals are rejected.
Sources & calculation scope
Federal references explain the default assumptions. State rules, exemptions, collective agreements, and special pay arrangements may differ. This tool estimates hours and pay; it does not determine legal entitlement.