How do you calculate overtime pay?

Overtime pay is calculated by multiplying overtime hours by your hourly rate times the overtime multiplier. For example, 5 overtime hours at £15/hr with 1.5x multiplier = 5 × £15 × 1.5 = £112.50.

What is time and a half?

Time and a half means 1.5 times your regular hourly rate. If you earn £15/hr, time and a half is £22.50/hr. This is the most common overtime rate specified in UK employment contracts.

Double time means 2 times your regular hourly rate. Some UK employers offer double time for bank holidays, Sundays, or hours worked beyond a certain daily limit. At £15/hr, double time = £30/hr.

What is the difference between daily and weekly overtime?

Weekly overtime applies when total hours in a workweek exceed a threshold (typically 37.5–40 hours in the UK). Daily overtime applies when hours in a single day exceed a threshold (typically 8 hours). Whether daily overtime applies depends on your employment contract.

Is overtime calculated by day or by week?

In the UK, how overtime is calculated depends on your employment contract. Most UK contracts define overtime as any hours worked beyond your normal weekly contracted hours. However, some contracts also specify daily thresholds — for example, 1.5x after 8 hours in a single day.

Do salaried employees get overtime?

There is no legal distinction between 'exempt' and 'non-exempt' employees in the UK. Whether a salaried employee receives overtime depends entirely on their employment contract. Some contracts include overtime provisions; others do not. Check your contract or speak to your employer.

How is overtime taxed?

Overtime pay is taxed the same as regular pay — it's added to your gross income for the pay period. Your employer may withhold at a higher rate if the overtime pushes you into a higher tax bracket, but the actual tax is calculated on your total annual income through PAYE. Consult an accountant or HMRC for specific advice.

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Overtime Calculator

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Calculate overtime pay with support for daily & weekly thresholds, double-time, and custom rates. More accurate than basic work hours calculators.

Hourly Rate (£)

Regular Hours

Overtime Hours

OT Multiplier

Regular Pay

£562.50

37.5 hrs

Overtime Pay (1.5x)

£112.50

5 hrs

Double Time (2x)

£0.00

0 hrs

Total Gross Pay

£675.00

42.5 hrs

Pay Breakdown

Regular OT (1.5x) Double Time (2x)

Full Work Hours Calculator

Last updated: July 11, 2025 · All calculations performed locally in your browser

What Is Overtime?

Overtime is additional compensation paid to employees for working beyond their contracted hours. Understanding how it's calculated is essential for verifying your work hours and pay.

Overtime is extra pay an employer provides when an employee works more than their normal contracted hours. In the UK, there is no statutory right to overtime pay for most workers — it depends entirely on what's written in your employment contract.

The most common overtime rate in the UK is 1.5 times the employee's regular hourly rate — commonly referred to as "time and a half." For example, if your regular rate is £15 per hour, your overtime rate is £22.50 per hour. Use our overtime calculator above to compute your exact pay.

Some employers go further and offer double time (2x) for bank holidays, Sundays, or very long shifts. Certain sectors — such as healthcare, emergency services, and construction — often have enhanced overtime rates negotiated through trade unions. Our Advanced mode handles these complex scenarios — most free overtime calculators cannot.

Overtime Pay Formula

The math behind overtime is straightforward. Here's the formula for each tier, plus examples you can verify with our calculator.

Regular Pay

Regular Hrs x Rate

Example: 37.5 hrs x £15/hr = £562.50

Overtime (1.5x)

OT Hrs x Rate x 1.5

Example: 5 hrs x £15 x 1.5 = £112.50

Double Time (2x)

DT Hrs x Rate x 2

Example: 2 hrs x £15 x 2 = £60.00

Total Gross Pay

Regular Pay + OT Pay + DT Pay = Total

£562.50 + £112.50 + £60.00 = £735.00 total gross pay

Daily vs. Weekly Overtime

Understanding the difference is critical — especially if your contract specifies both types. Our Advanced mode handles both simultaneously.

Weekly Overtime (Most Common)

Applies when total weekly hours exceed your contracted hours (typically 37.5–40)
Rate: 1.5x (time and a half) is most common
Standard in most UK employment contracts
Use Simple mode in our calculator

Daily Overtime (Some Contracts)

Applies when daily hours exceed a threshold (e.g. 8 hours)
1.5x after 8 hrs, 2x after 12 hrs in some contracts
Common in healthcare, construction, and shift-work sectors
Use Advanced mode in our calculator

See our full UK overtime rights guide for details on your entitlement. Also see our who gets overtime guide to check if you qualify.

Overtime Rules at a Glance

Key overtime rules across major jurisdictions. Sources: GOV.UK, Gov.ie, EU.

Jurisdiction	Weekly Limit	Daily OT	Double Time	OT Rate
UK	48 hrs (max)	Contractual	Contractual	Usually 1.5x
Ireland	48 hrs (avg)	Contractual	Contractual	Usually 1.5x
EU (Directive)	48 hrs (avg)	None (statutory)	None (statutory)	Varies
Australia	38 hrs (standard)	After 8–10 hrs/day*	Varies	1.5x / 2x
Canada (Federal)	40 hrs	None (federal)	None (federal)	1.5x

*Australian daily OT thresholds vary by award and industry. In the UK, overtime rates and thresholds are determined by your employment contract. See full UK guide.