UK Overtime Calculator
Use this UK overtime calculator to estimate gross overtime pay from your hourly rate, contracted weekly hours, overtime hours, and contract overtime multiplier. UK law does not set a universal time-and-a-half overtime rate.
UK overtime pay calculator
Estimate UK overtime pay using your contract rate, minimum wage floor, and the 48-hour average weekly limit.
Min Wage Floor: £12.71/hour (National Living Wage for ages 21+ effective 1 April 2026)
Default shown is for workers aged 21 and over from 1 April 2026. Younger workers and apprentices may have different National Minimum Wage rates.
UK wage and working-time rules
In the United Kingdom, there is no automatic statutory right to receive extra pay for working overtime. However, employers must ensure that the employee's average pay rate does not fall below the correct National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage rate. Overtime multipliers (like 1.5× 'time and a half' or 2.0× 'double time' for Sundays) are contractual. Under the UK Working Time Regulations, most adult workers cannot work more than 48 hours a week on average, usually averaged over 17 weeks, unless they sign a voluntary written opt-out.
Use the multiplier from your contract, handbook, rota policy, or collective agreement.
Working time and rest checklist
The UK Working Time Regulations limit most adult workers to an average of 48 hours a week, usually averaged over 17 weeks, unless they voluntarily opt out in writing.
Awaiting Input
Enter your hourly rate and hours to see your estimated overtime pay.
Estimates only; not legal, tax, or payroll advice. Confirm final pay obligations with the official agency guidance or a qualified advisor.
Quick answer
United Kingdom overtime pay, rates, and working-time rules
UK searchers usually want to know whether overtime pay is legally required, what overtime rate applies, and whether the 48-hour weekly limit can be opted out of. This page keeps those answers separate so contractual pay and statutory working-time limits are not confused.
Use the UK calculator for contract-based overtime estimates. UK law does not set a universal time-and-a-half rate, so the calculator starts at normal time (1.0x). Change the multiplier if your contract, handbook, rota policy, or collective agreement says overtime is paid at 1.25x, 1.5x, 2x, or another rate.
Official sources
GOV.UK — National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage ratesGOV.UK — Overtime: your rightsGOV.UK — Maximum weekly working hoursACAS — Pay for working extra hoursLast reviewed: July 2, 2026
Sources: GOV.UK, ACAS
Educational estimate only — not legal, payroll, or financial advice.
United Kingdom source review
Rule last reviewed: July 2, 2026Page last updated: July 8, 2026Official sources
- GOV.UK — National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage ratesGOV.UK — National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates · checked 2026-07-07
- GOV.UK — Overtime: your rightsGOV.UK — Overtime: your rights · checked 2026-07-07
- GOV.UK — Maximum weekly working hoursGOV.UK — Maximum weekly working hours · checked 2026-07-07
- ACAS — Pay for working extra hoursACAS — Pay for working extra hours · checked 2026-07-07
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.
See something outdated? Send a correction.
UK overtime pay: calculate your contract rate first
In the UK, overtime pay is usually a contract question, not an automatic statutory time-and-a-half right. Use this page to estimate overtime from your hourly rate, contracted weekly hours, extra hours worked, and the overtime multiplier written in your contract, handbook, rota policy, or collective agreement.
No automatic premium
UK employers do not have to pay a higher overtime rate unless the contract or policy says so.
Minimum wage floor
Average pay across total hours must not fall below the National Living Wage or National Minimum Wage.
48-hour average limit
Most adult workers cannot average more than 48 hours a week, usually averaged over 17 weeks, unless they voluntarily opt out in writing.
UK overtime formula
Overtime hourly rate = hourly rate × contractual overtime multiplier
Overtime pay = overtime hourly rate × overtime hours
Total gross pay = standard-hours pay + overtime pay
If your contract says overtime is paid at normal time, use a 1.0x multiplier. If it says time and a half, use 1.5x. If it says double time for Sundays or bank holidays, use 2.0x for those hours. The calculator is an estimate, so always compare the result with your written overtime clause.
UK overtime examples
Example: £15/hour with 5 overtime hours at 1.5x
- Standard pay: 37.5 × £15.00 = £562.50
- Overtime rate: £15.00 × 1.5 = £22.50/hour
- Overtime pay: 5 × £22.50 = £112.50
- Total gross pay: £675.00
Example: £20/hour with 6 overtime hours at normal time
- Standard pay: 37.5 × £20.00 = £750.00
- Overtime rate: £20.00 × 1.0 = £20.00/hour
- Overtime pay: 6 × £20.00 = £120.00
- Total gross pay: £870.00
What to check before using the UK calculator
- Your standard hours: commonly 37.5 or 40 hours, but your contract controls this.
- Your overtime trigger: the point after which extra hours count as overtime.
- Your overtime rate: normal time, 1.25x, 1.5x, 2x, TOIL, or another policy.
- Minimum wage compliance: total average pay must still meet the legal wage floor.
Need the legal deep dive?
Read the UK overtime law guide
The calculator page stays focused on pay estimates. For employment status, working-time history, voluntary vs compulsory overtime, holiday-pay treatment, ACAS conciliation, and tribunal deadlines, use the dedicated legal guide.
UK overtime law guideRelated OvertimeIQ resources
Overview of labor guidelines in United Kingdom:
- Minimum Wage / Guidance: Minimum wage enforcement: HMRC; workplace guidance and early conciliation: ACAS
- Main Rule: The Working Time Regulations 1998
- Wage Baseline: £12.71/hour (National Living Wage for ages 21+ effective 1 April 2026)
- Weekly Threshold: Contractual (commonly over 37.5 or 40 hours weekly)
Calculations Case Study for United Kingdom
If an employee earns a standard hourly base pay of £12.71 and works 43.5 hours in a week:
- Regular Hours: 37.5 hours × £12.71 = £476.63
- Overtime hourly rate: £12.71 × 1 = £12.71/hour
- Overtime Pay: 6 OT hours × £12.71 = £76.26
- Grand Total Weekly Pay: £552.89
Frequently Asked Questions
Is overtime pay legally required in the UK?
No. Employers are not legally forced to pay a premium overtime rate unless a contract, workplace policy, rota agreement, or collective agreement gives one. Average pay across all worked hours must still meet the correct minimum wage rate.
Is time and a half required in the UK?
No, not automatically. Use 1.5x only when your employment contract, staff handbook, rota policy, or collective agreement says overtime is paid at time and a half.
Can my employer make me work overtime in the UK?
Only if your contract allows compulsory overtime. Even then, the 48-hour average weekly limit usually still matters unless you have voluntarily opted out in writing.
What is the 48-hour week opt-out?
Most adult workers cannot work more than 48 hours a week on average, usually averaged over 17 weeks. A worker can choose to opt out, but the opt-out should be voluntary and in writing.
Does overtime count toward minimum wage calculations?
Yes. Average pay across the total hours worked must not fall below the correct National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage rate for the worker's age or apprentice status.
What is TOIL?
TOIL means time off in lieu. It is an arrangement where extra hours are compensated with paid or unpaid time off instead of an overtime cash premium, depending on the contract or policy.
What overtime multiplier should I use?
Use 1.0x for normal time. Use 1.25x, 1.5x, 2.0x, or another multiplier only if your contract, handbook, rota policy, or collective agreement says that rate applies.
Does UK holiday pay include overtime?
Sometimes regular overtime can affect holiday pay because holiday pay may need to reflect normal remuneration. For the deeper legal treatment, use the linked UK overtime law guide.