How do I calculate when my lunch break ends?

Add the length of the break to the time it started. A 30-minute break beginning at 12:00 PM ends at 12:30 PM; a 45-minute break beginning at 1:15 PM ends at 2:00 PM. The calculator does the addition for you and rolls the result into the next day when the break runs past midnight.

What happens if my break crosses midnight?

The result wraps into the following day. A 30-minute break starting at 11:45 PM ends at 12:15 AM, which is 23:45 + 30 minutes = 00:15 in 24-hour time. The calculator flags that the return time falls on the next day.

How do I subtract an unpaid lunch from my hours?

Work out the elapsed time between the shift start and the shift end, then subtract the unpaid break minutes. A shift from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM is 8 hours 30 minutes elapsed; removing a 30-minute unpaid lunch leaves 8 hours 00 minutes, or 8.00 decimal hours.

Does the calculator handle overnight shifts?

Yes. If the shift end is earlier than the shift start, the end is treated as the following day. A 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM shift is 8 hours elapsed; a 30-minute unpaid break leaves 7 hours 30 minutes, or 7.50 decimal hours.

What is the difference between a paid and an unpaid break?

A paid break is counted as working time, so it stays inside your total hours. An unpaid break is deducted. Only enter break minutes in the worked-time mode when the break is unpaid; enter 0 when the break is paid. Which breaks are paid depends on your workplace rules, contract and local laws.

Why does the calculator show an error when my break is longer than my shift?

Because the result would be misleading. If a shift is 480 minutes and the break entered is 600 minutes, the calculator keeps your entry exactly as typed, shows a validation message and does not produce a worked-time figure until either the times or the break are corrected. It never silently shortens a break.

Can I use 24-hour time?

Yes. Use the time-format selector to switch between 12-hour (AM/PM) and 24-hour entry. The preference is remembered across every WorkCalc Hub calculator, and switching format never changes a value you already entered: 11:45 PM and 23:45 are the same time.

Break & Lunch Calculator

Work out what time your break finishes, or subtract an unpaid lunch from a shift to see the hours you actually worked. Overnight shifts and breaks that run past midnight are handled automatically, in 12-hour or 24-hour time.

What do you want to work out?

Break end timeWhen does my break finish?Worked time after breakSubtract an unpaid break from a shift.

Your break

Time format:

Enter times using AM/PM, for example 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM. A clock out earlier than the clock in is treated as the next day.

Break start time

Break duration (minutes)

Pick a preset or type any whole number of minutes.

This calculator helps with time calculations only. Whether a break is required, paid, unpaid, or counted as working time depends on applicable workplace rules, employer policies, contracts, and laws.

Result

Return to work

—

Enter a break start time and duration.

Break length—

Crosses midnight—

How to calculate when a lunch break ends

The arithmetic is a single addition: take the clock time the break started and add the number of minutes the break lasts.

Return to work = Break start + Break duration

A 30-minute lunch that starts at 12:00 PM ends at 12:30 PM. A 15-minute rest break that starts at 10:20 AM ends at 10:35 AM. In 24-hour time those are 12:00 + 30 = 12:30 and 10:20 + 15 = 10:35. The display format never changes the answer, only how it is written.

When the addition passes midnight the return time belongs to the next calendar day. 11:45 PM plus 30 minutes is 12:15 AM (23:45 + 30 = 00:15), and 11:50 PM plus 20 minutes is 12:10 AM (23:50 + 20 = 00:10). Night-shift workers can rely on this instead of counting hours by hand.

How to subtract an unpaid break from work hours

Elapsed shift = Shift end − Shift start
Worked time = Elapsed shift − Unpaid break

Elapsed time is the whole stretch between clocking in and clocking out. The unpaid break is then removed to leave the time actually worked, which is the figure that usually reaches payroll.

Worked examples

30-minute lunch on a day shift

8:00 AM to 4:30 PM is 8 hours 30 minutes elapsed. Removing a 30-minute unpaid lunch leaves 8 hours 00 minutes, or 8.00 decimal hours. Entered as 24-hour time, 08:00 to 16:30 with a 30-minute break gives exactly the same result.

15-minute rest break

A 15-minute break starting at 2:45 PM ends at 3:00 PM (14:45 + 15 = 15:00). If that break is unpaid on a 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM shift, the worked time is 8 hours minus 15 minutes = 7 hours 45 minutes, or 7.75 decimal hours.

Overnight shift

10:00 PM to 6:00 AM is 8 hours elapsed because the end time is treated as the following day. A 30-minute unpaid break leaves 7 hours 30 minutes, or 7.50 decimal hours. In 24-hour time: 22:00 to 06:00 with a 30-minute break.

12-hour and 24-hour entry side by side

12:00 AM is 00:00, and 12:00 PM is 12:00.
11:45 PM is 23:45, and 10:25 PM is 22:25.
4:30 PM is 16:30, and 8:00 AM is 08:00.

Paid versus unpaid breaks

A paid break counts as working time, so it stays inside the total and nothing is subtracted — enter 0 unpaid minutes. An unpaid break is time away from work that is deducted before pay is calculated, so it is entered as break minutes. Many workplaces treat short rest breaks and longer meal breaks differently, and some shifts contain both.

This calculator helps with time calculations only. Whether a break is required, paid, unpaid, or counted as working time depends on applicable workplace rules, employer policies, contracts, and laws. Check your contract, staff handbook or a qualified adviser rather than assuming a figure here settles the question.

Validation rules

Break minutes must be whole numbers; 0 is allowed.
Negative break minutes are rejected with an inline message.
If an unpaid break is longer than the shift, the entry is kept exactly as typed, an error is shown and no worked-time result is produced. The break is never silently shortened.
Identical shift start and end times are flagged rather than treated as 24 hours.

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate when my lunch break ends?: Add the length of the break to the time it started. A 30-minute break beginning at 12:00 PM ends at 12:30 PM; a 45-minute break beginning at 1:15 PM ends at 2:00 PM. The calculator does the addition for you and rolls the result into the next day when the break runs past midnight.
What happens if my break crosses midnight?: The result wraps into the following day. A 30-minute break starting at 11:45 PM ends at 12:15 AM, which is 23:45 + 30 minutes = 00:15 in 24-hour time. The calculator flags that the return time falls on the next day.
How do I subtract an unpaid lunch from my hours?: Work out the elapsed time between the shift start and the shift end, then subtract the unpaid break minutes. A shift from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM is 8 hours 30 minutes elapsed; removing a 30-minute unpaid lunch leaves 8 hours 00 minutes, or 8.00 decimal hours.
Does the calculator handle overnight shifts?: Yes. If the shift end is earlier than the shift start, the end is treated as the following day. A 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM shift is 8 hours elapsed; a 30-minute unpaid break leaves 7 hours 30 minutes, or 7.50 decimal hours.
What is the difference between a paid and an unpaid break?: A paid break is counted as working time, so it stays inside your total hours. An unpaid break is deducted. Only enter break minutes in the worked-time mode when the break is unpaid; enter 0 when the break is paid. Which breaks are paid depends on your workplace rules, contract and local laws.
Why does the calculator show an error when my break is longer than my shift?: Because the result would be misleading. If a shift is 480 minutes and the break entered is 600 minutes, the calculator keeps your entry exactly as typed, shows a validation message and does not produce a worked-time figure until either the times or the break are corrected. It never silently shortens a break.
Can I use 24-hour time?: Yes. Use the time-format selector to switch between 12-hour (AM/PM) and 24-hour entry. The preference is remembered across every WorkCalc Hub calculator, and switching format never changes a value you already entered: 11:45 PM and 23:45 are the same time.
Does this calculator tell me whether I am legally entitled to a break?: No. It performs time calculations only. Whether a break is required, paid, unpaid, or counted as working time depends on applicable workplace rules, employer policies, contracts, and laws.

Which calculator do I need?

Break / Lunch Calculator: calculate a return-from-break time or subtract an unpaid break from a single shift.
Time Card Calculator: calculate a full workweek including breaks and overtime.
Hours Worked Calculator: calculate one or multiple shift durations.
Decimal Hours Calculator: convert hours and minutes to payroll-style decimal hours.
Overtime Calculator: use when regular and overtime hours are already known and you want estimated overtime pay.

More work-hours calculators

Other free WorkCalc Hub calculators. Entries still in development will be linked here as soon as they are published.

Time Card CalculatorDaily clock in/out times and breaks to weekly totals, overtime and estimated gross pay.
Hours Worked CalculatorOne or more shifts: clock in, clock out and unpaid breaks to net hours worked.
Overtime CalculatorHourly rate, regular and overtime hours to overtime rate, overtime pay and estimated gross pay.
Decimal Hours CalculatorConvert hours and minutes to payroll-style decimal hours, or decimal hours back again.
Weekly Pay CalculatorHours and rate to weekly gross pay.Coming soon
Shift Differential CalculatorNight, weekend and holiday premium rates.Coming soon