Break Time Deduction Calculator

How this calculation works

Under FLSA, only bona fide meal breaks of 30 minutes or more — where the employee is completely relieved of duty — may be unpaid.

A "working lunch" where the employee remains on duty is paid time.

How this Break Time Deduction Calculator works — 2026 guide

A 30-minute unpaid lunch sounds standard — but under the FLSA it is only legal if you are completely relieved of duty. Answer a work call during lunch, stay by the register, or eat at your desk "on call," and that break becomes paid time that counts toward your 40-hour overtime threshold. This 2026 break time deduction calculator shows both sides: enter your hours and break minutes, toggle paid vs unpaid, and see the dollar value of the deduction at your hourly rate — useful for verifying a paycheck and for employers who want to stay FLSA-compliant.

How to use it in 3 steps

1. Enter your hourly rate and the total hours worked in the week.
2. Enter break minutes per day and toggle paid or unpaid for each.
3. Read net paid hours and the dollar impact of the break deduction.

Who this is for

Hourly workers checking a stub, employers auditing meal-break policy, and anyone told "lunch is unpaid" who wants to know the rules. Read the [can employers deduct break time guide](/blog/can-employers-deduct-break-time/) and the [paid vs unpaid breaks guide](/blog/paid-vs-unpaid-breaks/), then run the math in the [time card calculator](/tools/time-card-calculator/).

Data sources & authoritative references

This calculator is built on official U.S. rules and published statistics. Key sources:

• U.S. Department of Labor — Meal Break Fact Sheet #50
• eCFR 29 CFR Part 785 — Hours Worked