How Long Is a Football Halftime Break?

Key points about halftime

Start the clock at the interval. Halftime begins when the referee ends the first half, not when the scheduled 45 minutes are up.
Allow up to 15 minutes. The Laws of the Game set a maximum; competition rules determine the permitted interval within that limit.
Restart with the second half. The break ends when play is ready to resume and the referee signals the restart.
Account for added time. Time added to the first half is played before halftime, so the break does not necessarily begin at the 45-minute mark on the match clock.
Check the sport and competition. “Football” can mean different sports, and other codes or particular competitions may use different break lengths.

The standard answer: 15 minutes maximum

For association football, commonly called soccer in some countries, the halftime interval is no longer than 15 minutes under The IFAB Laws of the Game. The exact interval is specified by the competition rules. In ordinary professional matches, a 15-minute break is the familiar standard, but the Law sets a ceiling rather than requiring every match to use the full 15 minutes.

The break separates the two halves of the match. It is not an extra period of playing time: the ball is out of play, and the referee’s timekeeping for the first half has already stopped. The teams change ends before the second half begins, and the match resumes with the appropriate kickoff.

How halftime is measured

A standard match has two halves of 45 minutes, but those are not necessarily the exact clock times at which the teams leave and return. The referee allows for time lost during each half, such as delays for substitutions, injuries, disciplinary action, or other stoppages. That allowance is commonly displayed as added time at the end of the half.

For example, if the referee signals five minutes of added time, the first half continues beyond 45 minutes. Halftime starts when the referee blows the whistle to end the half, after that added time has been played. The 15-minute interval is counted from that point, not from the moment the match clock first reaches 45:00.

Added time in the first half is not the same thing as a longer halftime. It extends the playing period before the break. Likewise, a delay in getting the second half underway does not alter the legal maximum interval; the referee and competition officials manage the restart under the applicable rules.

Comparisons that make 15 minutes easier to picture

Fifteen minutes is a quarter of an hour: the time from one quarter past an hour to half past the same hour. It is long enough for a brief pause, but short compared with the length of the whole event.

Compared with a half: It is one-third of the 45 minutes in a standard half, before any added time.
Compared with regulation playing time: Two 45-minute halves total 90 minutes, so a 15-minute interval is one-sixth of that playing time.
Compared with a school lesson: It is roughly the length of a short classroom break, rather than a full lesson.
Compared with a short trip: It is about the time many people might spend walking a few ordinary city blocks, depending on pace and surroundings.

These comparisons describe the duration only. A match broadcast may take considerably longer than the nominal 90 minutes because it includes added time, halftime, pre-match coverage, and other pauses. The halftime interval itself remains a separate break between the halves.

Why the interval can seem longer or shorter

At the stadium or on television, the perceived break can differ from the official interval. Viewers may see analysis, replays, interviews, or advertisements during the pause, while people in the ground may be walking to facilities or returning to their seats. Those activities do not change the rule-defined duration.

The actual interval can also be shorter than 15 minutes if the competition rules provide for a shorter break. It should not be assumed that every match, age group, or competition follows the same arrangements. The relevant competition rules govern, within the Laws’ maximum.

One common misunderstanding is that halftime is always exactly 15 minutes from the scheduled 45-minute mark. The first half may end after added time, and the break is counted from the referee’s signal ending that half. Another is that the 15-minute maximum means the referee must wait the full amount. It does not: the competition’s rules set the interval, and 15 minutes is the upper limit.

What to check for a particular match

If you need the precise interval for a specific fixture, check the rules for its competition rather than relying on a general schedule or broadcast break. The Laws provide the overall framework, while competition regulations can specify the match arrangements. The referee may also need to manage the restart if a team is not ready, but that does not create a different standard halftime allowance.

Confirm that the match is association football rather than another sport also called football.
Look for the competition’s stated halftime interval or match regulations.
Separate first-half added time from the time allowed for the break.
Use the referee’s whistle ending the first half as the start point for the interval.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is football halftime always 15 minutes?

No. Fifteen minutes is the maximum under the Laws of the Game, not a requirement that every match use the full interval. Competition rules set the permitted break, and a particular match may have a shorter one.

Does halftime start at 45 minutes?

It starts when the referee ends the first half. If added time is played, that happens after the 45-minute mark, so the break begins later than the nominal end of the half.

Does halftime include added time?

No. Added time is part of the half in which time was lost. It is played before the referee ends that half; the halftime interval follows the final whistle for the half.

How long is halftime in extra time?

In competitions that use extra time, the rules for the competition determine the arrangements. The ordinary halftime interval between the two regulation halves should not be confused with the shorter interval between periods of extra time; check the competition regulations for the specific match.

Is halftime the same length in every kind of football?

No. Association football has its own Laws, while gridiron football, rugby, and other sports have different rules and break arrangements. The 15-minute maximum in this article applies to association football.

Sources: The IFAB Laws of the Game. Menus and buttons can differ slightly by version. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.