Meal & Rest Break Laws in Washington
Washington (WA) · Meal & break laws · Last reviewed July 2026
Meal break
Required
Paid rest break
Required
Federal rule
Short breaks paid
Is There a Federal Break Law?
Federal law does not require employers to provide meal or rest breaks. It only says that if you offer short breaks (usually 5–20 minutes), those must be paid, while bona fide meal periods of 30 minutes or more — where the employee is fully relieved of duty — can be unpaid. Everything beyond that is set by the state.
Meal Breaks in Washington
Washington requires employers to provide a meal period for shifts over a set length (commonly a 30-minute unpaid meal once an employee works more than five or six hours). Confirm the exact trigger and length with the state labor office, and keep records showing the break was provided.
Rest Breaks in Washington
Washington is one of the states that also requires paid rest breaks — typically around 10 minutes for every 4 hours worked. Rest breaks are counted as hours worked and must be paid.
Documenting Breaks
Whether or not breaks are required, the strongest protection is a clear record. A time clock that captures break and lunch punches — and lets employees confirm their breaks were provided — gives you the documentation that resolves most disputes.
Washington Labor-Law Snapshot
Washington requires meal breaks on longer shifts and requires paid rest breaks. The Washington minimum wage is $17.13/hour (about $9.88 above the federal $7.25), and unpaid break time interacts with the roughly $25.70/hour overtime rate on long shifts.
For Washington employers these rules interact with timekeeping: accurate, audit-logged hours drive overtime, sick-leave accrual, final pay, and break records. Washington requires meal breaks on longer shifts and requires paid rest breaks; a final paycheck is due by the next regular payday when an employee resigns. Confirm current Washington figures with the state labor office before relying on any single number.
Official Sources
More Washington Guides
Meal & Break Laws in Other States
Washington Meal & Break Laws: Frequently Asked Questions
Are lunch breaks required by law in Washington?
Yes — Washington requires a meal period for longer shifts, commonly a 30-minute unpaid break once an employee works more than five or six hours.
Are rest breaks paid in Washington?
Yes — Washington requires paid rest breaks (often around 10 minutes per 4 hours worked), counted as time worked.
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