Short answer. A reasonable lunch period, as close to the middle of the shift as possible, starting no sooner than 3 hours and no later than 5 hours into the shift. The statute sets no length. A paid rest period of at least 10 minutes in each 4 hours worked, separate from the lunch period.
Kentucky breaks at a glance
- Meal break
- A reasonable lunch period, as close to the middle of the shift as possible, starting no sooner than 3 hours and no later than 5 hours into the shift. The statute sets no length.
- Rest breaks
- A paid rest period of at least 10 minutes in each 4 hours worked, separate from the lunch period.
- Paid?
- Rest: paid.
- Minors (under 18)
- Minors under 18 can't work more than 5 hours in a row without a lunch period of at least 30 minutes, and the employer records when it starts and ends.
- Law
- KRS 337.355 (lunch), KRS 337.365 (rest)
- Agency
- Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet, Division of Wages and Hours
In Kentucky's words
Meal break
Hiring in another state? Employer registration in Kentucky, done for you, or a free bookkeeping health check.
"nor more than five (5) hours from the time his work shift commences."
Rest breaks
"at least ten (10) minutes during each four (4) hours worked."
Minors
"shall not be permitted to work more than five (5) hours continuously without an interval of at least thirty (30)"
Breaks by shift length in Kentucky
For an adult working the hours in one stretch, Kentucky's rule as we read it calls for:
| Shift | Meal break | Rest breaks |
|---|---|---|
| 3½ hours | See the rule | None yet |
| 4 hours | See the rule | 10 minutes |
| 7½ hours | See the rule | 10 minutes |
| 8 hours | See the rule | 10 minutes and 10 minutes |
| 11½ hours | See the rule | 10 minutes and 10 minutes |
| 12 hours | See the rule | 10 minutes, 10 minutes and 10 minutes |
Other shift lengths: open the checker set to Kentucky.
Who the Kentucky rule covers
Employers generally, except employees under the federal Railway Labor Act.
Waivers and exceptions in Kentucky
A collective bargaining agreement or a mutual agreement between employer and employee can set the lunch period differently. For rest periods, an agreement giving at least 10 minutes for each 4 hours takes the place of the statute.
If a Kentucky employer misses a break
KRS 337.990(10): an employer that violates the rest-period statute (KRS 337.365) "shall be assessed a civil penalty of not less than one hundred dollars ($100)" and not more than $1,000. That subsection doesn't name the lunch-period statute (KRS 337.355).
Worth knowing in Kentucky
No reduction in pay is allowed for the 10-minute rest periods, for hourly or salaried employees.
Kentucky sources
- KRS 337.355 Lunch period requirements (checked November 2026)
- KRS 337.365 Rest periods for employees (checked November 2026)
- Kentucky Child Labor Laws poster (checked November 2026)
- Justia (statute text) (secondary source): KRS 337.990, penalties (2025 Kentucky Revised Statutes, Justia) (checked November 2026)
Sourced from official pages; a few facts from vetted secondary sources, marked "(secondary source)".
Kentucky 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.
Kentucky break questions
When is a meal break required in Kentucky?
A reasonable lunch period, as close to the middle of the shift as possible, starting no sooner than 3 hours and no later than 5 hours into the shift. The statute sets no length. Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet, Division of Wages and Hours puts it as "nor more than five (5) hours from the time his work shift commences."
How many rest breaks does Kentucky require?
A paid rest period of at least 10 minutes in each 4 hours worked, separate from the lunch period.
Can a Kentucky employee skip or waive a break?
A collective bargaining agreement or a mutual agreement between employer and employee can set the lunch period differently. For rest periods, an agreement giving at least 10 minutes for each 4 hours takes the place of the statute.
Who is covered by the Kentucky break rule?
Employers generally, except employees under the federal Railway Labor Act.
What breaks do minors get in Kentucky?
Minors under 18 can't work more than 5 hours in a row without a lunch period of at least 30 minutes, and the employer records when it starts and ends. (Ages: under 18.)
What happens if a Kentucky employer skips a required break?
KRS 337.990(10): an employer that violates the rest-period statute (KRS 337.365) "shall be assessed a civil penalty of not less than one hundred dollars ($100)" and not more than $1,000. That subsection doesn't name the lunch-period statute (KRS 337.355).
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