UK Rest Break Calculator
Enter a shift start and end time to instantly check the rest breaks required under the UK Working Time Regulations 1998 — including under-18 rules and daily rest between shifts.
Shift details
Times wrap past midnight for night shifts.
We'll check the gap meets the 11-hour daily rest rule.
Your results
Calculated against UK statutory minimums.
Shift length
8 hr 30 min
8.50 hours total
Required rest break
20 min
20 min uninterrupted if shift > 6 hrs
Suggested break window
13:15 – 13:35
Around the midpoint of the shift
Daily rest required
11 hrs
Add next shift start to check
Never miss a break or rest gap again
WorkSchedule checks breaks and 11-hour rest gaps for every shift as you build the rota, then sends it to your team’s phones.
UK rest break rules at a glance
20-minute break (adults)
Workers aged 18+ get one uninterrupted 20-minute break when their shift is longer than 6 hours.
30-minute break (under 18)
Workers aged 16–17 get a 30-minute break when they work more than 4.5 hours in a row.
11-hour daily rest
Adult workers must have at least 11 consecutive hours of rest in every 24-hour period.
12-hour rest (under 18)
Workers under 18 must have at least 12 consecutive hours of rest between working days.
Weekly rest
At least 24 uninterrupted hours per 7 days for adults (or 48 hours per fortnight). 48 hours per 7 days for under-18s.
Breaks must be uninterrupted
Statutory breaks can't be split into shorter chunks and shouldn't be taken at the start or end of a shift.
Build rotas that respect rest breaks automatically
WorkSchedule flags shifts that miss required breaks, 11-hour rest gaps and consecutive-day issues as you build the schedule — so you stay compliant without thinking about it.
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