Time Card Calculator with Lunch Break
Enter your shift times and your unpaid lunch, and get accurate daily and weekly totals with the break already deducted.
Pick a date to label each row with its real date.
Hours over this per week count as overtime at 1.5× pay. Leave empty to disable.
For states like California: hours over this per day count as overtime. Leave empty to disable.
Rounds each day’s total the way payroll systems do.
| Day | Starting Time | Ending Time | Break Deduction | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | : | : | : | 0.00 |
| Tuesday | : | : | : | 0.00 |
| Wednesday | : | : | : | 0.00 |
| Thursday | : | : | : | 0.00 |
| Friday | : | : | : | 0.00 |
| Saturday | : | : | : | 0.00 |
| Sunday | : | : | : | 0.00 |
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Why Lunch Breaks Cause Timesheet Errors
Most timesheet mistakes happen at lunch. People forget to subtract it, subtract it twice, or subtract a paid break that should have counted as work time. The result is a paycheck that doesn't match reality, in either direction.
This calculator makes the deduction explicit: every day has a Break Deduction column next to the start and end times. Enter your shift as you actually worked it (9:00 AM to 5:30 PM), put the unpaid lunch in the break field (0:30), and the day's total comes out right (8.00 hours) with no double counting possible.
Paid vs. Unpaid Breaks: Which to Deduct
As a rule of thumb: meal breaks of 30 minutes or more are usually unpaid and should go in the break column. Short rest breaks of around 5 to 20 minutes are usually paid and stay in your hours. Your employer's policy (or your state's rules) settles any edge cases, so check your handbook if you're unsure.
Different break lengths on different days are no problem, and if you work through lunch, just leave the break field empty for that day. Everything totals in payroll-ready decimal hours, with optional overtime and pay calculation. When you're done, download the PDF timesheet or export a CSV. Learn more in our guide on how to fill out a timesheet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I deduct my lunch break from my hours?
Enter the length of your unpaid lunch in the Break Deduction column, for example 0:30 or 1:00. The calculator subtracts it from that day's total automatically.
Should I deduct paid breaks too?
No. Short rest breaks that your employer pays for stay in your total. Only unpaid time, usually the lunch break, goes in the break column.
What if my lunch break is different every day?
Each day has its own break field, so a 30-minute lunch on Monday and an hour on Friday are both handled correctly.
Can I avoid deducting lunch twice?
Yes, and it's a common timesheet mistake. Either enter your full shift times and put the lunch in the break column, or clock out and back in around lunch, but never both.
More Free Time Tools
- Time Card Calculator - the full weekly calculator with PDF timesheets.
- Bi-Weekly Time Card Calculator - track a full two-week pay period.
- Time to Decimal Calculator - convert hours and minutes into decimal hours for payroll.