Work, pay & shifts
How to Calculate Shift Length With Breaks
The time between clocking in and clocking out is the shift length; the time you actually worked is that minus your breaks. Keeping the two apart — and converting the result the same way your timesheet does — avoids most of the small errors that turn up on a pay stub. This guide works through a day with several breaks and lists common shifts with their working time.
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Gross shift, breaks, and net time
- Gross shift length: end time minus start time.
- Break time: every break you’re subtracting, added together.
- Net working time: gross shift length minus break time.
- Decimal hours: net working minutes ÷ 60, for timesheets and pay.
A day with three breaks
- Shift: 6:30 AM to 3:15 PM is 8 hours 45 minutes.
- Breaks: 15 + 30 + 15 minutes = 60 minutes.
- Net: 8 hours 45 minutes − 1 hour = 7 hours 45 minutes.
- Decimal: 465 minutes ÷ 60 = 7.75 hours.
Common shifts after breaks
| Shift | Breaks subtracted | Working time | Decimal hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | 60 minutes | 7 hours | 7 |
| 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM | 30 minutes | 8 hours | 8 |
| 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM | 30 minutes | 8 hours | 8 |
| 6:30 AM – 3:15 PM | 15 + 30 + 15 minutes | 7 hours 45 minutes | 7.75 |
| 10:30 PM – 7:00 AM | 30 minutes | 8 hours | 8 |
Shifts that end the next day
If the end time is earlier than the start, the shift crossed midnight: add 24 hours to the end time before subtracting, then take off the breaks as usual. 10:30 PM to 7:00 AM is 8 hours 30 minutes; a 30-minute break leaves 8 hours.
Recording it on a timesheet
- Subtract breaks from the shift length rather than moving the start or end time; moving a time backward is easy to get wrong when the shift crosses midnight.
- Convert to decimal once, at the end, so rounding doesn’t pile up.
- Note which breaks you subtracted; whether a break counts as work time is set by your employer’s policy and local rules.
Shift Length With Breaks FAQ
- What is the difference between shift length and hours worked?
- Shift length is the time from start to end; hours worked is that minus the breaks you subtract.
- How do I handle several breaks in one shift?
- Add them together first, then subtract the total once. 15 + 30 + 15 minutes is 1 hour.
- How long is a 9-to-5 shift with a 1-hour lunch?
- 7 hours: 8 hours from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, minus 1 hour.
- What is 7 hours 45 minutes in decimal hours?
- 7.75, because 45 minutes is 45 ÷ 60 = 0.75 hours.
- Should I convert to decimal before or after subtracting breaks?
- Either gives the same answer if you convert exactly, but converting once at the end avoids rounding errors.
Related guides
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