Time Card Calculator with Lunch
Accurately subtract unpaid lunch breaks from daily shifts, isolate federal weekly overtime, and estimate gross payroll earnings with integer-minute precision.
Weekly Time Card with Lunch Deduction
Subtracts unpaid meal breaks (29 CFR § 785.19) and calculates net paid hours and weekly overtime.
| Day | Start Time (In) | End Time (Out) | Unpaid Lunch Break | Net Paid Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | min | 8.00h8h 0m | ||
| Tuesday | min | 8.00h8h 0m | ||
| Wednesday | min | 8.00h8h 0m | ||
| Thursday | min | 8.00h8h 0m | ||
| Friday | min | 8.00h8h 0m | ||
| Saturday | min | -- | ||
| Sunday | min | -- |
How Unpaid Meal Breaks Work Under Federal Law (FLSA)
Deducting lunch breaks is one of the most common sources of payroll discrepancies in American workplaces. Federal regulations establish strict requirements for what qualifies as an unpaid meal break versus compensable working time.
The Federal Standard: 29 CFR § 785.19 (Bona Fide Meal Periods)
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, bona fide meal periods are not worktime. To qualify as an unpaid break, the following criteria must be satisfied:
- 1. Complete Relief
The employee must be completely relieved from all duties, both active and inactive. If a receptionist eats at their desk while answering phones, the entire time is compensable work.
- 2. Duration Standard
Ordinarily, 30 minutes or longer is required for a bona fide meal period. Breaks under 20 minutes cannot be classified as unpaid meals.
- 3. Freedom of Movement
The worker is not required to remain at their work station, though employers may require workers to stay on the company premises.
Rest Breaks (Paid) vs. Meal Breaks (Unpaid)
| Break Type | Typical Duration | Federal Status (FLSA) | Deducted from Timesheet? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rest / Coffee Break | 5 to 20 minutes | Compensable work time (29 CFR § 785.18) | NO (Must be paid) |
| Bona Fide Meal Break | 30 to 60 minutes | Non-compensable if fully relieved (29 CFR § 785.19) | YES (Unpaid deduction) |
| Working Lunch | Any length | Employee performs duties while eating | NO (Must be paid) |
Worked Example: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM with a 45-Minute Lunch
Step 1 (Gross Time): From 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM is 9 hours = 540 minutes.
Step 2 (Lunch Deduction): Subtract 45 minutes of unpaid lunch: 540 - 45 = 495 paid minutes.
Step 3 (Decimal Hours): Divide 495 by 60: 495 ÷ 60 = 8.25 decimal hours (8 hours and 15 minutes).
Step 4 (Gross Pay): At a base wage of $24.00/hour: 8.25 × $24.00 = $198.00.
Calculating Work Hours with Lunch: 29 CFR § 785.19 Compliance
Read our complete workplace guide covering bona fide meal period standards, why 5–20 minute rest breaks cannot be deducted, and how to audit automated timecard deductions.
Need a Full 2-Week Timesheet?
Audit 14-day pay periods with FLSA overtime isolated individually for Week 1 and Week 2 to avoid the 80-hour averaging trap.