Time Card With Lunch Break: How to Subtract Break Time

Quick answer

Find elapsed shift time first, then subtract the total unpaid break minutes. Divide the remaining minutes by 60 if you need decimal hours.

Formula or method

Step-by-step

1. Convert clock-in and clock-out to elapsed minutes.
2. Subtract unpaid lunch and other unpaid breaks.
3. Divide paid minutes by 60 for decimal hours.
4. Add daily paid hours for the weekly total.

Worked example

For 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, elapsed time is 510 minutes. With a 60-minute unpaid lunch, paid time is 450 minutes = 7.50 hours.

How to interpret the result

Use the actual unpaid break amount for each calculation. If break lengths vary by day, calculate each day separately before adding the week.

Common mistakes

• Subtracting paid breaks.
• Using clock notation as decimal notation.
• Failing to account for overnight shifts.