--- title: "Washington Meal and Rest Break Laws | MCC Solutions" description: "Washington break rules: 30 min, over 5 hrs for meals, required (see rule) for rest breaks, with Washington's own wording and a shift-length table." url: "https://mcc-solutionsnj.com/bookkeeping/meal-break-laws-washington" --- Breaks · Washington # Washington meal and rest break laws When Washington requires a meal break, whether short rest breaks are required, the rule for young workers, and what Washington's official pages say about waivers and who is covered. [![Intuit ProAdvisor Gold tier badge](/img/credentials/intuit-proadvisor-gold.png)](https://proadvisor.intuit.com/app/accountant/search?searchId=matthew-coleman77)Gold tier in Intuit's ProAdvisor program. [See my Intuit listing](https://proadvisor.intuit.com/app/accountant/search?searchId=matthew-coleman77) Keeping your own books? Tallyfinch does invoices, bank import and reports on your computer. [See Tallyfinch](/bookkeeping/mcc-books-downloadable-bookkeeping-software) **Short answer.** A meal period of at least 30 minutes for a shift of more than 5 hours, starting between the 2nd and 5th hour. Unpaid only if the employee is free from all duties. A paid rest period of at least 10 minutes for every 4 hours worked, and no more than 3 hours of work without one. ## Washington breaks at a glance Meal break A meal period of at least 30 minutes for a shift of more than 5 hours, starting between the 2nd and 5th hour. Unpaid only if the employee is free from all duties. Rest breaks A paid rest period of at least 10 minutes for every 4 hours worked, and no more than 3 hours of work without one. Paid? Meal: unpaid if the employee is relieved of all duty; rest: paid. Minors (under 18) Under 16: a 30-minute meal break by the 4th hour and a paid 10-minute break at least every 2 hours. 16 and 17: a 30-minute meal break by the 5th hour and a paid 10-minute break every 3 hours. Law WAC 296-126-092 Agency Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) ## In Washington's words **Meal break** Hiring in another state? [Employer registration in Washington, done for you](/bookkeeping/out-of-state-employer-registration), or [a free bookkeeping health check](/bookkeeping/health-check). "Employees must be allowed a meal period when they work more than five hours in a shift." **Rest breaks** "Employees must be allowed a paid rest period, free from duties, of at least 10 minutes for every 4 hours worked." **Minors** "Minors under the age of 16 must receive at least a 10-minute paid rest break." ## Breaks by shift length in Washington For an adult working the hours in one stretch, Washington's rule as we read it calls for: | Shift | Meal break | Rest breaks | | --- | --- | --- | | 4 hours | None yet | See the rule | | 5 hours | None yet | See the rule | | 5½ hours | 30 minutes | See the rule | | 8 hours | 30 minutes | See the rule | Other shift lengths: [open the checker set to Washington](/bookkeeping/meal-and-rest-break-checker?state=wa). ## Who the Washington rule covers Most employees. Minors and agricultural workers have their own standards, and some health care workers have separate meal and rest rules. ## Waivers and exceptions in Washington Employees can waive the meal period if they and the employer agree. Rest breaks cannot be waived. ## Worth knowing in Washington L&I says the entire meal period must be paid if the employee is called back to work, however many interruptions there are. **Not stated on the Washington pages we read:** a penalty. ## Official Washington sources - [Washington L&I: Rest breaks, meal periods and schedules](https://www.lni.wa.gov/workers-rights/workplace-policies/rest-breaks-meal-periods-and-schedules) (checked November 2026) - [Washington L&I: Youth wages, rest breaks and meal periods](https://www.lni.wa.gov/workers-rights/youth-employment/wages-rest-breaks-and-meal-periods) (checked November 2026) Washington 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. ## Washington break questions **When is a meal break required in Washington?** A meal period of at least 30 minutes for a shift of more than 5 hours, starting between the 2nd and 5th hour. Unpaid only if the employee is free from all duties. Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) puts it as "Employees must be allowed a meal period when they work more than five hours in a shift." **How many rest breaks does Washington require?** A paid rest period of at least 10 minutes for every 4 hours worked, and no more than 3 hours of work without one. **Is a meal break paid in Washington?** On the official page we checked, the meal break is unpaid if the employee is relieved of all duty. If the employee has to keep working or stay on duty, the time is paid. **Can a Washington employee skip or waive a break?** Employees can waive the meal period if they and the employer agree. Rest breaks cannot be waived. **Who is covered by the Washington break rule?** Most employees. Minors and agricultural workers have their own standards, and some health care workers have separate meal and rest rules. **What breaks do minors get in Washington?** Under 16: a 30-minute meal break by the 4th hour and a paid 10-minute break at least every 2 hours. 16 and 17: a 30-minute meal break by the 5th hour and a paid 10-minute break every 3 hours. (Ages: under 18.) All states: [meal and rest break laws by state](/bookkeeping/meal-and-rest-break-laws-by-state) · [Tennessee](/bookkeeping/meal-break-laws-tennessee) · [West Virginia](/bookkeeping/meal-break-laws-west-virginia) Tallyfinch ### Books you keep on your own computer Tallyfinch does invoices, bills, bank import, reconciliation and the main reports, in a file you own. $99 once, then $5 a month for updates; the app keeps working if you stop the plan. It does not do payroll or sales tax filing. 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