Pick your state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Meal and rest breaks rules at a glance
A short summary for each state. Open a state for the details, exceptions and sources.
| State | Meal break | Rest breaks |
|---|---|---|
| AlabamaNo adult break law | No state rule for adults. Federal law does not require meal breaks; meal periods of 30+ minutes with no work can be unpaid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes you choose to give must be paid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| AlaskaNo adult break law | No state rule for adults. Federal law does not require meal breaks; meal periods of 30+ minutes with no work can be unpaid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes you choose to give must be paid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| ArizonaNo adult break law | No state rule for adults. Federal law does not require meal breaks; meal periods of 30+ minutes with no work can be unpaid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes you choose to give must be paid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| ArkansasNo adult break law | No state rule for adults. Federal law does not require meal breaks; meal periods of 30+ minutes with no work can be unpaid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes you choose to give must be paid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| California | At least 30 minutes, duty-free, for work over 5 hours a day; a second 30 minutes over 10 hours. Unpaid if fully relieved of duty. Source: dir.ca.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | Paid 10-minute rest break for each 4 hours or major fraction (over 2 hours). Not required if daily work is under 3.5 hours. Source: dir.ca.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Colorado | 30 minutes, uninterrupted and duty-free, for shifts over 5 hours; unpaid only if fully relieved of duty. Schedule at least 1 hour after start and before end. Source: cdle.colorado.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | Paid 10-minute rest break for each 4 hours of work (1 break for over 2 to 6 hours, 2 for over 6 to 10, and so on). Source: cdle.colorado.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Connecticut | At least 30 minutes for employees working 7.5 consecutive hours or more, given after the first 2 hours and before the last 2 hours. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes you give must be paid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Delaware | Unpaid meal break of at least 30 consecutive minutes for employees working 7.5 or more consecutive hours, after the first 2 hours and before the last 2. Source: delcode.delaware.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes you give must be paid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| District of ColumbiaNo adult break law | No state rule for adults. Federal law does not require meal breaks; meal periods of 30+ minutes with no work can be unpaid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes you choose to give must be paid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| FloridaNo adult break law | No state rule for adults. Federal law does not require meal breaks; meal periods of 30+ minutes with no work can be unpaid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes you choose to give must be paid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| GeorgiaNo adult break law | No state rule for adults. Federal law does not require meal breaks; meal periods of 30+ minutes with no work can be unpaid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes you choose to give must be paid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| HawaiiNo adult break law | No state rule for adults. Federal law does not require meal breaks; meal periods of 30+ minutes with no work can be unpaid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes you choose to give must be paid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| IdahoNo adult break law | No state rule for adults. Federal law does not require meal breaks; meal periods of 30+ minutes with no work can be unpaid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes you choose to give must be paid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Illinois | Employees working 7.5 continuous hours or more get at least 20 minutes, starting no later than 5 hours into the shift, plus 20 more minutes per extra 4.5 hours. Source: ilga.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No general paid rest break rule, and reasonable restroom time does not count toward the meal period. Hotel room attendants in Cook County get two paid 15-minute breaks and a 30-minute meal period. Source: ilga.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) Source: ilga.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| IndianaNo adult break law | No state rule for adults. Indiana law does not require lunch or other breaks for adult employees; federal law does not require them either. Source: faqs.in.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes must be paid if given. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| IowaNo adult break law | No state rule for adults. Federal law does not require meal breaks; bona fide meal periods of 30+ minutes can be unpaid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes must be paid if given. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| KansasNo adult break law | No state rule for adults. Federal law does not require meal breaks; bona fide meal periods of 30+ minutes can be unpaid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes must be paid if given. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Kentucky | A reasonable off-duty meal period, ordinarily 30 minutes, given between the 3rd and 5th hour of work. It is not counted as time worked. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | A paid 10-minute rest break during each 4-hour work period, on top of the meal period. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| LouisianaNo adult break law | No state rule for adults. Federal law does not require meal breaks; bona fide meal periods of 30+ minutes can be unpaid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes must be paid if given. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Maine | Employees cannot work more than 6 consecutive hours without a chance to take 30 consecutive minutes off. It can be unpaid meal time if fully relieved of duty. Source: legislature.maine.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes must be paid if given. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Maryland | Covered retail employers: 15 minutes for 4 to 6 consecutive hours; 30 minutes for over 6 hours; 8+ hours adds 15 minutes per extra 4 hours. Source: labor.maryland.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No general rest break rule outside covered retail. Federal law: short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes must be paid if given. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Massachusetts | At least a 30-minute meal break for each 6 hours worked in a day. Workers must be free of all duties and free to leave. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes must be paid if given. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| MichiganNo adult break law | No state rule for adults 18 and over. Federal law does not require meal breaks; bona fide meal periods of 30+ minutes can be unpaid. Source: michigan.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes must be paid if given. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Minnesota | Employees working 6 or more consecutive hours get a meal break of at least 30 minutes. It can be unpaid if fully relieved of duty. Source: revisor.mn.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | A rest break of at least 15 minutes, or longer if needed to reach the restroom, within each 4 consecutive hours. Breaks under 20 minutes must be paid. Source: dli.mn.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| MississippiNo adult break law | No state rule for adults. Federal law does not require meal breaks; bona fide meal periods of 30+ minutes can be unpaid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes must be paid if given. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| MissouriNo adult break law | No state rule for adults. Federal law does not require meal breaks; bona fide meal periods of 30+ minutes can be unpaid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes must be paid if given. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| MontanaNo adult break law | No state rule for adults. Federal law does not require meal breaks; bona fide meal periods of 30 minutes or more can be unpaid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes must be paid if you give them. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Nebraska | Assembly plants, workshops and mechanical businesses must give at least 30 consecutive minutes for lunch per 8-hour shift, and cannot require staff to stay on premises. Source: nebraskalegislature.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes must be paid if you give them. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Nevada | At least 30 minutes for every continuous 8 hours of work. Only a break of 30 minutes or more interrupts the 8 hours. Source: leg.state.nv.us↗ (opens in a new tab) | Paid 10-minute rest break for every 4 hours or major fraction, ideally mid-period. Not required if daily work is under 3.5 hours. Source: leg.state.nv.us↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| New Hampshire | No employee may work more than 5 consecutive hours without a 30-minute lunch, unless they can eat while working and the employer allows it. Applies to all employers. Source: gc.nh.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes must be paid if you give them. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| New JerseyNo adult break law | No state rule for adults. Federal law does not require meal breaks; bona fide meal periods of 30 minutes or more can be unpaid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes must be paid if you give them. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| New MexicoNo adult break law | No state rule for adults. Federal law does not require meal breaks; bona fide meal periods of 30 minutes or more can be unpaid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes must be paid if you give them. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| New York | Shifts over 6 hours spanning 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. get 30 minutes (factories 60). Shifts from before 11 a.m. past 7 p.m. get 20 more minutes. Source: nysenate.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | Not required. If you give short rest breaks, they count as paid working time. Source: dol.ny.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| North CarolinaNo adult break law | No state rule for employees 16 or older. Breaks of 30 minutes or more can be unpaid if the employee is fully relieved of duty. Source: labor.nc.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Breaks under 30 minutes, such as a 15-minute rest break, generally must be paid. Source: labor.nc.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| North Dakota | A 30-minute meal period is required on each shift over 5 hours when two or more employees are on duty. Unpaid if the employee is fully relieved of duty. Source: ndlegis.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes must be paid if you give them. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| OhioNo adult break law | No state rule for adults. Federal law does not require meal breaks; bona fide meal periods of 30 minutes or more can be unpaid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes must be paid if you give them. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| OklahomaNo adult break law | No state rule for adults. Federal law does not require meal breaks; bona fide meal periods of 30 minutes or more can be unpaid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes must be paid if you give them. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Oregon | 30-minute unpaid meal break, fully relieved of duty, for work periods of 6 hours or more; a second for 14+ hours. If they work through it, pay it. Source: oregon.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | Paid 10-minute rest break for each 4-hour segment (over 2 hours counts), near the middle. Cannot be added to meals or taken at shift start or end. Source: oregon.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| PennsylvaniaNo adult break law | No state rule for adults. Federal law does not require meal breaks; bona fide meal periods of 30 minutes or more can be unpaid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes must be paid if you give them. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Rhode Island | 20 minutes within a 6-hour shift, 30 minutes within an 8-hour shift. The employer does not have to pay for it. Source: webserver.rilegislature.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes that you choose to give must be paid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| South CarolinaNo adult break law | No state rule for adults. Federal law does not require meal breaks; meal periods of about 30 minutes or more where the worker is fully relieved can be unpaid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes that you choose to give must be paid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| South DakotaNo adult break law | No state rule for adults. Federal law does not require meal breaks; meal periods of about 30 minutes or more where the worker is fully relieved can be unpaid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes that you choose to give must be paid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Tennessee | 30-minute unpaid rest or meal break for employees scheduled to work 6 consecutive hours, not scheduled during or before the first hour. Source: lwdsupport.tn.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No separate paid rest breaks required. Two 20-minute or one 15-minute break do not replace the 30-minute break. Source: tn.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| TexasNo adult break law | No state rule for adults. Federal law does not require meal breaks; meal periods of about 30 minutes or more where the worker is fully relieved can be unpaid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes that you choose to give must be paid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| UtahNo adult break law | No state rule for adults. Federal law does not require meal breaks; meal periods of about 30 minutes or more where the worker is fully relieved can be unpaid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes that you choose to give must be paid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Vermont | No set length or timing. Employers must give reasonable opportunities during work periods to eat and use toilet facilities. Applies to all employers. Source: legislature.vermont.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No set paid rest break. The same reasonable opportunity to eat and use the toilet applies; short breaks given must be paid under federal law. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| VirginiaNo adult break law | No state rule for adults. The state labor department says employers need not give breaks or meal periods unless the worker is under 16. Source: doli.virginia.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes that you choose to give must be paid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Washington | 30 minutes for shifts over 5 hours, starting between hour 2 and 5. Paid if worker must stay on site. Extra 30 minutes if working 3+ hours past normal day. Source: app.leg.wa.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | Paid 10-minute rest break for each 4 hours worked, near the middle of the period. No more than 3 hours in a row without one. Source: app.leg.wa.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| West Virginia | At least 20 minutes for meals in a workday of 6+ hours, at times the employer sets. Applies to all employers. Source: code.wvlegislature.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes that you choose to give must be paid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| WisconsinNo adult break law | Not required for adults; the state recommends 30 minutes near usual meal time. Breaks of 30+ minutes can be unpaid only if fully relieved and free to leave. Source: dwd.wisconsin.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | Not required. Any break under 30 minutes counts as work time and must be paid. Source: dwd.wisconsin.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| WyomingNo adult break law | No state rule for adults. Federal law does not require meal breaks; meal periods of about 30 minutes or more where the worker is fully relieved can be unpaid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) | No state rule. Federal law does not require rest breaks, but short breaks of 5 to 20 minutes that you choose to give must be paid. Source: dol.gov↗ (opens in a new tab) |
