Break Deduction Calculator

Work out break deduction instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Break Deduction Calculator

Break entitlement usually accrues per block of hours worked - commonly 20 minutes for every six hours under working time rules. A nine hour shift contains one complete six-hour block, so 20 minutes of break is due; with five minutes paid, the 15 unpaid minutes reduce paid time to 8.75 hours.

Formulas

Break entitlement

break = floor(shift hours / 6) x entitlement per block

Paid time

paid = shift hours - unpaid break / 60

Worked example

With the default values below, Break Deduction Calculator returns Paid Hours After Deduction of 8.750. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Shift lengthaccepts 0–24 h: 9 h
Break entitlement per six hours workedminimum 0 min: 20 min
Of which paidminimum 0 min: 5 min

Results

Paid Hours After Deduction: 8.750 h
Total Break Entitlement: 20 min
Unpaid Break Deducted: 15 min
Six-Hour Blocks Worked: 1

Step by step

1Values used
2Break entitlement
3Paid time
4Paid Hours After Deduction= 8.750 h
5Total Break Entitlement= 20 min
6Unpaid Break Deducted= 15 min
7Six-Hour Blocks Worked= 1

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 3 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
Figures are rounded for display to 3 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a nine hour shift earn two breaks?

Not under a strict per-six-hours rule, since only one full block is completed. Many employers are more generous than the statutory minimum.

Must breaks be uninterrupted?

Statutory rest breaks generally must be, and taken away from the workstation. Split breaks may not satisfy the requirement.