Holiday Pay Calculator
Estimate holiday earnings at regular pay, time and a half (1.5×), double time (2×), or a custom employer policy rate, then see whether weekly overtime may add a separate premium.
Estimated results
Calculation breakdown
Holiday premium pay usually depends on employer policy, contract, union agreement, or state law.
Holiday pay is separated from weekly overtime so a policy premium and FLSA overtime premium are not silently double-counted.
Estimates only; not legal, tax, or payroll advice. Confirm final pay obligations with the official agency guidance or a qualified advisor.
Holiday pay vs overtime pay
Holiday premium pay is usually a policy or contract benefit. Overtime pay is a legal requirement when actual hours worked exceed an overtime threshold, such as 40 hours in a federal workweek.
Is today or tomorrow time and a half?
The answer depends on the holiday, your employer policy, your state, and your actual hours worked. Federal law usually does not require private employers to pay extra just because today or tomorrow is a holiday. Use the calculator above for the pay math, then check the exact holiday guide below.
Did you receive a holiday bonus and overtime in the same period?
A holiday bonus is different from holiday premium pay. If the bonus was promised or tied to work, attendance, production, or retention, it may affect the regular rate used for overtime.
Read the holiday bonus overtime guide →Do you legally get time and a half on holidays?
Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), employers are not legally required to pay extra for working on holidays like Christmas Day, Thanksgiving, Labor Day, or July 4th. Time and a half on holidays is a matter of agreement between an employer and an employee (or the employee's representative).
However, there are a few exceptions:
- Overtime threshold: If working the holiday pushes your total weekly hours over 40, those excess hours must be paid at 1.5× your regular rate.
- State laws: Rhode Island and Massachusetts have specific laws (like the Massachusetts Blue Laws) requiring premium pay for retail workers on certain holidays, though these are being phased out in some sectors.
- Federal contracts: Employees working on federal contracts may have specific holiday pay entitlements under the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act.
Holiday pay FAQs
Is holiday pay time and a half?
Not automatically under federal law. Time-and-a-half holiday pay usually depends on employer policy, contract, union agreement, state law, or whether holiday hours create overtime.
Are employers required to pay extra on holidays?
Federal law generally does not require holiday premium pay for private employees. Some contracts, policies, and state rules may require extra pay.
Can holiday hours also count as overtime?
Yes. If holiday work pushes actual hours worked over 40 in a workweek, weekly overtime rules may still apply.
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Source review
Rule last reviewed: June 22, 2026Page last updated: July 8, 2026Official sources
Disclaimer and review policy
Estimates only; not legal, tax, or payroll advice. Confirm final pay obligations with the official agency guidance or a qualified advisor.
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