Work Hours & Time Cards

8 to 5 With a 30-Minute Lunch

8:00 AM to 5:00 PM is 9 hours elapsed. Subtract a 30-minute unpaid lunch and paid time is 8 hours 30 minutes (8.50 decimal hours).

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Quick answer

8:00 AM to 5:00 PM is 9 hours elapsed. After subtracting a 30-minute unpaid lunch, paid time is 8 hours 30 minutes, or 8.50 decimal hours.

Formula

9 elapsed hours − 0.5 hours unpaid break = 8.5 paid hours

Step-by-step

  1. Count the time from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM: 9 hours.
  2. Convert the 30-minute lunch to 0.50 decimal hours.
  3. Subtract the unpaid break to get 8 hours 30 minutes paid time.

Compare different lunch lengths

BreakPaid timeDecimal hours
No unpaid break9 hours9.00
30 minutes8 hours 30 minutes8.50
45 minutes8 hours 15 minutes8.25
60 minutes8 hours8.00

Payroll note

Clock time and decimal hours are different formats. For example, 7 hours 30 minutes is 7.50 decimal hours, not 7.30.

Frequently asked questions

How many hours is 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM without lunch?

9 hours.

How many paid hours with a 30-minute lunch?

8 hours 30 minutes, or 8.50 decimal hours.

What if the lunch is paid?

Do not subtract it. Paid time would remain 9 hours.