Overtime and Break Laws in France (2026)
Code du travail (durée légale 35 heures, heures supplémentaires) · Reviewed 2026-10 · Private-sector employees
Overtime
Legal week is 35 hours. Default overtime premium is 25% for the 36th to 43rd hour and 50% from the 44th hour in the week.
Breaks and lunch
A pause of at least 20 consecutive minutes once daily work reaches 6 hours. It is generally unpaid unless the employee stays at the employer's disposal or an agreement says otherwise.
Overtime in France
- 1.25x pay for hours past 35 in a week.
- 1.5x pay for hours past 43 in a week.
- A collective agreement can set different premiums, but never below 10%.
- Default annual overtime quota (contingent) is 220 hours per employee, unless an agreement sets another figure.
- Maximums: 10 hours a day, 48 hours in any one week, and 44 hours average over 12 consecutive weeks (46 by agreement or authorisation).
- Cadres dirigeants and employees on an annual days-based forfait are outside the overtime rules.
- Collective agreements may define a different weekly working duration.
What two weeks of work come to
Worked out by the rule above (1.25x after 35h in a week, 1.5x after 43h in a week). Hours.
| Two weeks of | Regular | Overtime (1.25x) | At 1.5x |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 days of 8 hours, two weeks (80h) | 70 | 10 | 0 |
| 5 days of 10 hours, two weeks (100h) | 70 | 16 | 14 |
| 6 days of 9 hours, two weeks (108h) | 70 | 16 | 22 |
| 50 hours, then 30 hours (80h) | 65 | 8 | 7 |
Breaks and lunch in France
- Rest break: 1 × 20 minutes, unpaid, for shifts of 6 hours or more.
| Shift | Rest breaks | Meal break |
|---|---|---|
| 4 hours | None | None |
| 6 hours | 1 × 20 min, unpaid | None |
| 8 hours | 1 × 20 min, unpaid | None |
| 10 hours | 1 × 20 min, unpaid | None |
| 12 hours | 1 × 20 min, unpaid | None |
- The pause can be given before the 6-hour mark is reached; a collective agreement can set longer pauses.
- Minors: at least 30 consecutive minutes after 4.5 hours of continuous work.
- Daily rest of at least 11 consecutive hours.
- Weekly rest of at least 24 consecutive hours plus the 11-hour daily rest, so 35 hours; normally Sunday.
- Weekly cap 48 hours in one week and 44 hours average over 12 weeks (stricter than the EU 48-hour average).
Pay by France rules in Kloqk
Kloqk is a free time clock. In Settings, open Payroll, press Rules by country and pick France: the overtime and break rules above fill in, and every timesheet, report and payroll export follows them. Change any number to match your own contract.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the overtime rule in France?
Legal week is 35 hours. Default overtime premium is 25% for the 36th to 43rd hour and 50% from the 44th hour in the week.
What breaks are required in France?
A pause of at least 20 consecutive minutes once daily work reaches 6 hours. It is generally unpaid unless the employee stays at the employer's disposal or an agreement says otherwise.