Start with elapsed shift time
Calculate the full period from clock-in to clock-out. A 9:00 AM–5:00 PM shift contains 480 elapsed minutes. If lunch is 30 unpaid minutes, net work is 450 minutes, or 7 hours 30 minutes.
Do not subtract a paid rest break. Paid break minutes can be shown for information while remaining inside net worked time.
- Enter the full shift from clock-in to clock-out.
- Enter only the unpaid meal duration in minutes.
- Review elapsed time, deducted break time, and net worked time separately.
Split-shift lunch records
Some time cards record lunch as a clock-out and a later clock-in instead of a break value. In that case, record morning and afternoon as two shifts. For example, 8:30 AM–12:30 PM plus 1:00 PM–5:00 PM equals 8 worked hours.
Do not subtract lunch again when it is already represented by the gap between two shifts. That would double-count the deduction.
Check unusually long breaks
A break cannot be longer than its shift. The calculator treats that as an error instead of silently producing a negative duration. Review accidental AM/PM selections as well, because they can make a short shift appear overnight.
Whether lunch is paid is not a calculator decision
The treatment of meal periods can depend on the circumstances and applicable rules. This tool performs arithmetic from the values you enter; it does not determine whether a meal period may legally be unpaid.
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Frequently asked questions
Does a paid lunch reduce hours?
Not in this calculator. Only the unpaid-break field reduces net time.
What if lunch is clocked out separately?
Enter the pre-lunch and post-lunch periods as separate shifts.
Can I enter different lunches each day?
Yes. Every shift has its own unpaid and paid break fields.