How long is a break for a 6-hour shift in the UK?

Adult workers who work more than six hours a day are entitled to one uninterrupted 20-minute rest break during the day. A shift of exactly six hours doesn't trigger it under the regulations, though many employers give one anyway.

Is it law to have 11 hours between shifts in the UK?

Yes, for most adult workers: they're entitled to at least 11 consecutive hours' rest in each 24-hour period they work. Young workers under 18 are usually entitled to 12 hours. Some shift workers get compensatory rest instead.

How many breaks do you get on a 12-hour shift in the UK?

The legal minimum for adults is one uninterrupted 20-minute break, however long the shift is over six hours. Many contracts give more on a 12-hour shift, so check the contract.

If I work 7 hours, how long is my break?

An adult working more than six hours is entitled to one uninterrupted 20-minute rest break during the day, so a 7-hour shift gets at least 20 minutes. Whether it's paid depends on the contract.

Is there a legal 15-minute break in the UK?

No. For adults, the legal minimum is one uninterrupted 20-minute break when working more than six hours. A shorter 15-minute break can only come from a contract or workplace practice, on top of that minimum.

Can staff work more than 48 hours a week in the UK?

The limit is an average of 48 hours a week, normally over 17 weeks. Workers aged 18 or over can opt out in writing. Under-18s can't work more than 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week.

Are rest breaks paid in the UK?

Not necessarily. GOV.UK says whether the 20-minute break is paid depends on the employment contract. Check the contract and keep the rule consistent across the team.

Blog · Compliance

Work Rota Laws UK: Breaks, Hours Between Shifts and the 48-Hour Week

30 October 2026 · The Rosterly team · 6 min read

UK work rota laws for adults come mainly from the Working Time Regulations: a 20-minute uninterrupted break when working more than six hours, 11 consecutive hours' rest between working days, 24 hours' uninterrupted rest each week (or 48 hours each fortnight), and a 48-hour average working week, usually averaged over 17 weeks unless the worker opts out. Under-18s have stricter limits. These rules shape what a legal rota looks like, especially in hospitality and retail, where late closes and early opens are common. This post summarises them and turns them into a checklist. It's general information: check GOV.UK and take advice for anything unusual.

Rest breaks during a shift

GOV.UK says workers aged 18 or over who work more than six hours a day are entitled to one uninterrupted 20-minute rest break during the working day. Key points:

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Uninterrupted. It has to be a real break, not 20 minutes of "stay near the till".

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During the day. Not tacked on at the start or end of the shift.

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Not necessarily paid. Whether the break is paid depends on the employment contract.

The Working Time Regulations set the break at no less than 20 minutes and allow it to be spent away from the workstation. Collective or workforce agreements can change the details.

Breaks by shift length

The legal minimum doesn't grow with the shift. These are the entitlements for adult workers; contracts often give more.

6 hours or less

Legal minimum break: No rest break required by the regulations

7, 8 or 9 hours

Legal minimum break: One uninterrupted 20-minute break

12 hours

Legal minimum break: One uninterrupted 20-minute break

Under-18s are usually entitled to a 30-minute break once they've worked more than 4.5 hours.

Is it law to have 11 hours between shifts?

Yes, for most adult workers. They're entitled to at least 11 consecutive hours' rest in each 24-hour period they work. In rota terms:

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a close that finishes at 11pm means the next shift can't start before 10am

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a 1am finish means no start before midday

This is the rule most often broken by "clopening": closing one night and opening the next morning.

Weekly rest

Adult workers are entitled to an uninterrupted 24 hours without work each week, or 48 hours each fortnight. A rota where someone works 13 days in a row breaks this even if each shift is short.

The 48-hour average week

GOV.UK says workers can't work more than 48 hours a week on average, normally averaged over 17 weeks. Workers aged 18 or over can choose to opt out in writing. So a 55-hour week during a busy season can be lawful if quieter weeks bring the average down, but a rota that's 50 hours every week isn't, unless the person has opted out.

Young workers (under 18)

The limits are stricter for young workers:

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a 30-minute break if they work more than 4.5 hours

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12 hours' daily rest

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48 hours' weekly rest

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no more than 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week

Students working weekend shifts in retail and hospitality are often under 18, so tag them on the rota.

Exceptions

GOV.UK lists situations where different rules apply. A worker may get compensatory rest instead of the usual breaks if, for example, they're a shift worker who can't take daily or weekly rest between shifts, their working day is split, or they work in a busy seasonal sector such as retail or tourism. Compensatory rest is the same length as the break they missed. Check whether any exception applies before relying on it.

Is there a law on rota notice?

Not yet, in general. There's no general legal minimum notice for publishing a rota, so contracts usually set expectations. The Employment Rights Act 2025 includes a right to reasonable notice of shifts and of changes for some workers, but it isn't in force and the details are still being settled, so check the GOV.UK timeline. Until then, see how far in advance to post a rota for what works in practice.

Overtime pay is separate

GOV.UK says employers don't have to pay extra for overtime, though average pay for all hours worked must not fall below the National Minimum Wage. Many contracts set an overtime rate, so check the contract.

A UK rota checklist

1.

Shifts over six hours include a 20-minute uninterrupted break during the day.

2.

At least 11 hours between the end of one working day and the start of the next.

3.

A full day off each week, or two in each fortnight.

4.

No one averaging over 48 hours across the reference period unless they've opted out in writing.

5.

Under-18s: a 30-minute break after 4.5 hours, 12 hours' daily rest, two days off a week, and a maximum of 8 hours a day and 40 a week.

6.

Opt-outs and agreements kept on file.

7.

Records of hours worked kept, so you can show the averages.

Rotas that pass the checklist

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Avoid clopenings. Put closers on later starts the next day.

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Rotate weekends. It's fairer, and it makes weekly rest easier. Our fair rostering rules cover how.

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Use a pattern. A fixed rotating shift pattern can build rest in from the start.

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Track hours over the reference period, not just this week.

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How Rosterly helps, and where it doesn't

Rosterly helps with the records and visibility:

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Clock times: staff clock in and out on server time, and unpaid breaks are recorded and removed from paid time.

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Rotas: published to every phone, with swaps approved by a manager.

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Hours: approved hours export to CSV, giving you the totals for working out averages.

It doesn't check rest periods between shifts, track the 48-hour average or flag young workers, so build those checks into how you write the rota. Browse staff rota software by industry, including retail stores and restaurant rotas in the UK.