Short answer. A 20-minute meal break for every 7.5 hours worked, starting no later than 5 hours into the shift, plus another 20 minutes on a shift of 12 hours or more.
Illinois breaks at a glance
- Meal break
- A 20-minute meal break for every 7.5 hours worked, starting no later than 5 hours into the shift, plus another 20 minutes on a shift of 12 hours or more.
- Minors (under 16)
- Minors under 16 get a scheduled meal period of at least 30 minutes no later than the 5th consecutive hour of work.
- Law
- One Day Rest in Seven Act (820 ILCS 140); Child Labor Law (820 ILCS 205)
- Agency
- Illinois Department of Labor, Fair Labor Standards Division
In Illinois's words
Meal break
"for every 7.5 hours worked no later than 5 hours after the start of the shift."
Minors
"A scheduled meal period of at least 30 minutes shall be provided no later than the 5th consecutive hour of work."
Breaks by shift length in Illinois
For an adult working the hours in one stretch, Illinois's rule as we read it calls for:
| Shift | Meal break | Rest breaks |
|---|---|---|
| 4 hours | None yet | Not confirmed |
| 7 hours | None yet | Not confirmed |
| 7½ hours | 20 minutes | Not confirmed |
| 8 hours | 20 minutes | Not confirmed |
| 11½ hours | 20 minutes | Not confirmed |
| 12 hours | 20 minutes and 20 minutes | Not confirmed |
Other shift lengths: open the checker set to Illinois.
Who the Illinois rule covers
Employees in general, except those whose meal periods are set by a collective bargaining agreement.
Waivers and exceptions in Illinois
The meal and day-of-rest rules don't apply where a collective bargaining agreement governs meal periods and days off; if the agreement is silent, the Act applies.
If a Illinois employer misses a break
Employers with fewer than 25 employees: up to $250 in damages to the employee per offense plus up to $250 per employee to the Department. 25 or more employees: up to $500 each. Every day without a required meal period is a separate offense.
Worth knowing in Illinois
If an employee works through the meal break, the Department says it must be paid. Reasonable restroom breaks don't count against it.
Not stated on the Illinois pages we read: a rest break rule.
Official Illinois sources
- Illinois Department of Labor: One Day Rest in Seven Act FAQ (checked November 2026)
- Illinois Department of Labor: Child Labor Law compliance (checked November 2026)
Illinois rules as published on the pages above, checked November 2026. General information, not legal advice; we are not lawyers. A union contract, an industry order or a city ordinance can add to them.
Illinois break questions
When is a meal break required in Illinois?
A 20-minute meal break for every 7.5 hours worked, starting no later than 5 hours into the shift, plus another 20 minutes on a shift of 12 hours or more. Illinois Department of Labor, Fair Labor Standards Division puts it as "for every 7.5 hours worked no later than 5 hours after the start of the shift."
Can a Illinois employee skip or waive a break?
The meal and day-of-rest rules don't apply where a collective bargaining agreement governs meal periods and days off; if the agreement is silent, the Act applies.
Who is covered by the Illinois break rule?
Employees in general, except those whose meal periods are set by a collective bargaining agreement.
What breaks do minors get in Illinois?
Minors under 16 get a scheduled meal period of at least 30 minutes no later than the 5th consecutive hour of work. (Ages: under 16.)
What happens if a Illinois employer skips a required break?
Employers with fewer than 25 employees: up to $250 in damages to the employee per offense plus up to $250 per employee to the Department. 25 or more employees: up to $500 each. Every day without a required meal period is a separate offense.
All states: meal and rest break laws by state · Delaware · Kentucky