Break Entitlements by Shift Length
Pick your shift length to see exact meal and rest break entitlements under Australian Modern Awards.
How many breaks do you get on a shift in Australia? It depends on how long you work and which Modern Award covers you. The key rule: under most awards a meal break is due once you work more than 5 hours.
Pick your shift length below to see the exact meal and rest break entitlements, broken down by the most common Modern Awards.
4-Hour Shift →
No meal break. Usually 1 x 10 min paid rest break (none under Hospitality).
5-Hour Shift →
Usually 1 x 10 min paid rest, no meal break — the meal break starts after 5 hours under most awards.
6-Hour Shift →
30-60 min unpaid meal + usually 1 x 10 min paid rest break.
7-Hour Shift →
30-60 min unpaid meal + 1-2 x 10 min paid rest breaks.
8-Hour Shift →
30-60 min unpaid meal + 1-2 x 10 min paid rest breaks, depending on the award.
9-Hour Shift →
30-60 min unpaid meal + 2 x 10 min paid rest breaks under most awards.
10-Hour Shift →
1-2 meal breaks + 2 x 10 min paid rest breaks. Two meal breaks under General Retail.
11-Hour Shift →
1-2 meal breaks + 2 x 10 min paid rest breaks (Hospitality: 2 x 20 min).
12-Hour Shift →
1-2 meal breaks + 2-3 paid rest breaks, depending on the award.
Need your exact award?
Our Break Compliance Checker matches your shift against the rules for your specific Modern Award — hospitality, retail, nursing, manufacturing and more.
Open Break Compliance Checker →Break entitlements at a glance
| Shift Length | Meal Break | Paid Rest Breaks |
|---|---|---|
| 4 hours | None required | Usually 1 x 10 min |
| 5 hours | Usually none (Fast Food: 30-60 min) | Usually 1 x 10 min |
| 6 hours | 30-60 min unpaid | Usually 1 x 10 min |
| 7 hours | 30-60 min unpaid | 1-2 x 10 min |
| 8 hours | 30-60 min unpaid | 1-2 x 10 min |
| 9 hours | 30-60 min unpaid | 2 x 10 min (Hospitality 1 x 20) |
| 10 hours | 30-60 min (two under General Retail) | 2 x 10 min (Hospitality 1 x 20) |
| 11 hours | 1-2 x 30-60 min unpaid | 2 x 10 min (Hospitality 2 x 20) |
| 12 hours | 1-2 x 30-60 min unpaid | 2-3 x 10 min (Hospitality 2 x 20) |
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can I work without a break in Australia?
Under most Modern Awards a meal break is due once you work more than 5 hours — the General Retail Award, for example, says you can't be made to work more than 5 hours without one. Many awards also give paid 10-minute rest breaks during the shift.
Are breaks paid or unpaid?
Meal breaks (lunch/dinner) are unpaid under most awards — typically 30-60 minutes (shiftworkers under the General Retail Award are paid for theirs). Rest breaks (tea/smoko) are paid — usually 10 minutes, or 20 minutes under the Hospitality Award. The exact amounts depend on your award.
Do break rules change based on shift length?
Yes. The longer your shift, the more breaks you get. A 4-hour shift has no meal break; a 6-hour shift usually gets one 30-60 minute meal break; under the General Retail Award a shift of 10 hours or more gets two meal breaks and two paid rest breaks. Each award sets its own table.
What if my employer doesn't give me breaks?
That's a breach of your Modern Award. Raise it with your manager in writing, keep records, and contact the Fair Work Ombudsman on 13 13 94. You may be owed back pay if you worked through unpaid meal breaks.
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