Glossary · 2 min read
Night shift: hours and maximum length
Short answer
Night shift is the work done between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Its maximum length is 7 hours per day.
| Shift | Schedule | Daily maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Day | Between 6:00 am and 8:00 pm | 8 hours |
| Night | Between 8:00 pm and 6:00 am | 7 hours |
| Mixed | Both day and night, with less than 3 and a half night hours | 7 and a half hours |
Articles 60 and 61 of the LFT.
Why it matters to tell it apart
Because one hour less of maximum changes from when overtime is counted, and because the night hour is worth more: the same daily salary is divided by 7.
In the record
It is best for night hours to appear separate from day hours.
Why everything starts with the working-time record
Almost every labor calculation starts from the same data point: how many hours and which days each person worked. If that data is uncertain, so is everything else.
- Overtime: it is paid according to the hours of each week.
- Sunday premium and rest days worked: they depend on which days were worked.
- Aguinaldo and profit sharing: they use the days worked in the year.
- Labor lawsuits: the company must prove the working time.
Since 2026, the Federal Labor Law requires that record to be electronic, per person, with start and end time.
Common mistakes
- Using the UMA or minimum wage value from a previous year.
- Confusing daily salary, integrated salary and contribution base salary.
- Calculating benefits without knowing the days actually worked.
- Taking the legal minimums as if they were the maximum.
- Not keeping the backup of the calculation.
What to do now
- Confirm the current value for the year.
- Have each person's daily salary at hand.
- Check the days and hours worked in your record.
- Do the math and keep it.
- Validate it with your accountant.
Related terms
What is the contribution base salary (SBC). The contribution base salary is the salary used to calculate IMSS contributions and INFONAVIT contributions.
Overtime: what it is. Overtime is the hours worked above the ordinary workday.
What is the payroll CFDI. The payroll CFDI is the payment receipt stamped with the SAT that the company issues for each salary payment.
Frequently asked questions
Does a shift from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. comply?
That is 8 hours at night; the last one is overtime.
Do these values change every year?
Yes. The UMA is updated every February 1 and the minimum wage every January 1. Always confirm the current value.
Are the amounts gross or net?
Gross. They do not account for taxes or social security contributions.
Can I use this for my payroll?
It works as a reference. Your accountant should do or validate the payroll calculation.
Where does the data come from?
From the Federal Labor Law and from the official values published by INEGI and the National Minimum Wage Commission.
Legal basis and sources
- Working hours: articles 58 to 64 of the LFT and second transitory provision of the decree.
- Decree amending the Federal Labor Law on the reduction of the working week. Official Gazette of the Federation, May 1, 2026.
- Federal Labor Law, current text. Chamber of Deputies.
How we write this content. The Sicheca team writes it from the official text of the law. When something is not yet defined by the authority, we say so. It is general information and does not replace the advice of a lawyer or an accountant.