💰 Payroll Tool

Time and a Half
Calculator

Calculate time and a half pay, double-time overtime, holiday wages, and total earnings instantly — with animated pay breakdown and step-by-step calculation.

✓ Accurate Payroll Estimates

⏰ Overtime Pay Friendly

⚡ Fast Earnings Calculator

Pay rate & hours

Hourly rate

Regular hours

Currency

Overtime hours & multiplier

Overtime hours worked

Add holiday / special shift pay Estimate tax deduction

Total gross earnings

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regular + overtime + holiday pay

Regular pay

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Overtime pay

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Net pay (est.)

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Overtime rate

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Effective rate

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Total hours

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💵 Pay breakdown by type

—% regular

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—% overtime

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—% holiday

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📐 Step-by-step calculation

💡 Payroll insights:
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ℹ️ This calculator provides estimated overtime and payroll figures based on the inputs entered. Actual pay depends on employer policies, union agreements, local labour laws, and applicable tax deductions. Always verify with your payslip or HR department.

Time and a Half Calculator: Calculate Overtime Pay Instantly

Whether you’re an hourly worker verifying your paycheck, a manager preparing payroll, or an HR professional checking overtime compliance, calculating time and a half pay accurately is essential. This free time and a half calculator computes regular pay, overtime earnings at any multiplier (1.5×, 2×, or custom), holiday pay, and total gross wages — instantly. Enter your hourly rate, regular hours, and overtime hours for a complete pay breakdown with animated earnings bars and step-by-step calculation.

💰 Overtime pay formulas:
Regular pay = Regular hours × Hourly rate
Overtime pay = Overtime hours × Hourly rate × Multiplier
Time and a half: Multiplier = 1.5 · Double time: Multiplier = 2.0
Example: 40 regular hrs + 10 OT hrs at $20/hr with 1.5× = $800 + $300 = $1,100 total

What Is Time and a Half Pay?

Time and a half refers to an overtime pay rate of 1.5 times the employee’s regular hourly rate. It’s the most common overtime compensation rate and the federally mandated minimum for eligible employees in the United States under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). At $20/hour base rate, time and a half is $30/hour ($20 × 1.5). For every overtime hour worked, the employee earns their regular rate plus 50% extra.

The term originates from the simple mathematics: regular pay plus half of regular pay — “time” (the regular rate) and “a half” (50% extra). While 1.5× is the standard, many employers offer higher multipliers for specific circumstances — double time (2×) for holidays, extended shifts, or certain shift patterns is common in retail, healthcare, and hospitality sectors.

How Overtime Pay Is Calculated

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Step 1: Regular pay

Multiply your regular hours by your hourly rate. For a standard 40-hour week at $22/hour: 40 × $22 = $880 regular pay. This is the baseline before any overtime or premium calculation.

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Step 2: Overtime pay

Multiply overtime hours by the hourly rate and the overtime multiplier. For 8 overtime hours at $22/hour with 1.5× multiplier: 8 × $22 × 1.5 = $264 overtime pay. The overtime rate per hour = $22 × 1.5 = $33/hour.

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Step 3: Total gross pay

Add regular pay + overtime pay. $880 + $264 = $1,144 gross earnings for the week. If holiday hours apply, add those separately using the relevant multiplier (typically 1.5× or 2×).

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Effective hourly rate

Divide total gross pay by total hours worked to find the effective rate. $1,144 ÷ 48 hours = $23.83/hour effective rate — higher than the base rate due to overtime premium. Useful for comparing compensation across different work schedules.

Overtime Multipliers: 1.5×, 2×, and Custom Rates

Different situations call for different overtime multipliers. Understanding which applies to your situation helps you verify your paycheck accurately:

Multiplier	Name	Common applications	$20/hr rate → OT rate
1.5×	Time and a half	Standard overtime (FLSA default, most countries)	$30.00/hr
2×	Double time	Holidays, 7th consecutive day (California), extended shifts	$40.00/hr
1.25×	Quarter time over	Some part-time contracts, night shift differentials	$25.00/hr
1.75×	Time and three quarters	Some union agreements, weekend premiums	$35.00/hr
3×	Triple time	Public holidays in some jurisdictions (Australia, UK)	$60.00/hr

Holiday Pay Explained

Holiday pay compensates employees for working on designated public holidays. The multiplier varies by country, employer, and employment contract. In the US, there is no federal law requiring holiday pay — it’s an employer benefit. In the UK, most workers are entitled to 5.6 weeks of paid holiday annually. In Australia, most awards require double time or double time and a half for public holiday work.

This calculator’s holiday pay feature uses a separate multiplier input (defaulting to 2×) so you can accurately model any holiday pay rate. Common holiday pay rates: US retail/hospitality often offers 1.5×; some US contracts offer 2× for Christmas and New Year; UK and Australian public holiday work is typically 2–2.5×.

Overtime Laws and Standards by Region

Region	Overtime threshold	Minimum OT rate	Notes
United States (FLSA)	40 hours/week	1.5× (time and a half)	No maximum hours; some exemptions for salaried workers
California (state)	8 hours/day OR 40 hours/week	1.5× daily; 2× after 12 hrs/day or 7th day	More generous than federal FLSA
United Kingdom	No statutory OT rate	Contractual (employer-defined)	Must average National Minimum Wage over pay period
Australia	38 hours/week (NES)	1.5× minimum (Modern Awards)	2× after certain hours in some awards
Canada	40–44 hours/week (province-dependent)	1.5×	Varies by province
European Union	48 hours/week maximum average	Contractual	Worker can opt out with consent

Gross vs Net Pay: Understanding the Difference

The calculator computes gross pay — total earnings before any deductions. Your actual take-home (net pay) is lower after deductions including federal and state income tax withholding, Social Security (6.2%), Medicare (1.45%), state/local taxes, health insurance premiums, retirement contributions, and other voluntary deductions.

Overtime pay is taxed at your marginal income tax rate — which may push a portion of your earnings into a higher tax bracket. However, this doesn’t mean your effective overall tax rate increases dramatically; only the overtime earnings above the bracket threshold are taxed at the higher rate. Use the tax estimate field in this calculator to model your approximate net pay, but always verify with your payslip or HR for accurate withholding figures.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is time and a half pay?

Time and a half pay is an overtime rate equal to 1.5 times the employee’s regular hourly rate. If you earn $20/hour normally, your time and a half rate is $20 × 1.5 = $30/hour. It’s the most common overtime rate and the federally mandated minimum in the US under the FLSA for eligible non-exempt employees who work more than 40 hours in a work week. The name comes from its structure: your regular “time” rate plus “a half” extra — 100% + 50% = 150% of base rate.

How do you calculate overtime pay?

Step 1: Calculate regular pay — Regular hours × Hourly rate. Step 2: Calculate overtime pay — Overtime hours × Hourly rate × Overtime multiplier (typically 1.5). Step 3: Add both together for total gross pay. Example: $18/hour, 40 regular hours, 6 overtime hours at 1.5×. Regular pay: 40 × $18 = $720. Overtime pay: 6 × $18 × 1.5 = $162. Total: $720 + $162 = $882 gross pay for the week. This calculator performs all three steps instantly with animated results.

What is double-time pay?

Double-time pay is an overtime rate of 2× the regular hourly rate — double your normal earnings for those hours. At $20/hour, double time is $40/hour. Double time is required in California after 12 hours in a single workday or for all hours on the 7th consecutive workday. Many employers also offer double time for public holidays (Christmas, New Year, etc.), even when not legally required. Use the 2× button in this calculator to model double-time scenarios.

Is holiday pay calculated differently from overtime?

Holiday pay uses the same basic formula (hours × rate × multiplier) but typically uses a higher multiplier than standard overtime. Many US employers offer 1.5× for holiday work. UK and Australian workers under Modern Awards often receive 2× or 2.5× for public holidays. Some employment contracts provide a flat “holiday premium” added to the regular rate. This calculator handles holiday pay separately with its own configurable multiplier — use the “Add holiday/special shift pay” toggle to include it in your total earnings calculation.

What is an overtime multiplier?

The overtime multiplier is the factor applied to your regular hourly rate to calculate your overtime rate. A 1.5× multiplier means you earn 1.5 times your regular rate for overtime hours. A 2× multiplier means you earn double. The formula: Overtime rate = Regular rate × Multiplier. At $25/hour: 1.5× = $37.50/hr, 1.75× = $43.75/hr, 2× = $50/hr. Multipliers above 1.5× are often found in union agreements, employment contracts offering enhanced benefits, or legally mandated in specific circumstances (California double-time provisions, certain UK contracts).

How many overtime hours are legally allowed?

In the US under federal FLSA, there is no maximum number of overtime hours for adult workers — employers can legally require any amount of overtime with appropriate compensation. However, some states have additional protections. The EU Working Time Directive limits most workers to an average of 48 hours per week (including overtime) over a reference period, with an opt-out available. Australia’s National Employment Standards set a maximum of 38 ordinary hours per week plus “reasonable additional hours.” Always check your specific jurisdiction and employment contract for applicable limits.

Does overtime affect my taxes?

Overtime earnings are taxed as ordinary income at your marginal tax rate — the rate that applies to your highest income bracket. Because overtime increases your total income, it may push some of your earnings into a higher bracket. However, only the portion above the bracket threshold is taxed at the higher rate — your lower-income portion remains taxed at the lower rate. A common misconception is that earning overtime can “hurt you” by pushing all income to a higher rate. This is not how progressive taxation works. Use the tax estimate field in this calculator for a rough net pay estimate, and consult a tax professional for precise withholding advice.

What is regular hourly pay?

Regular hourly pay (also called base rate or straight time) is the standard amount you earn per hour for work within your normal contracted hours. For non-exempt hourly workers, this is typically the FLSA or contract minimum hourly rate. For overtime calculations, the “regular rate of pay” has a specific legal definition under FLSA that includes not just the hourly rate but also certain additional compensation like production bonuses and commissions — making the actual overtime calculation slightly higher than simple hourly rate × 1.5 in some circumstances. This calculator uses your input hourly rate as the base regular rate.

How is weekly pay calculated?

Weekly gross pay = (Regular hours × Hourly rate) + (Overtime hours × Hourly rate × OT multiplier) + (Holiday hours × Hourly rate × Holiday multiplier). For salaried employees, weekly pay = Annual salary ÷ 52. For biweekly pay periods, multiply weekly gross by 2. This calculator computes the full weekly breakdown with separate regular, overtime, and holiday components, showing each as both a dollar amount and a percentage of total earnings in the animated bar chart.

How accurate is this overtime calculator?

The calculations are mathematically exact for the inputs provided — the formulas are straightforward multiplication. The results precisely match what any payroll system would compute using the same inputs. Potential differences from your actual paycheck: (1) Your employer may calculate the FLSA regular rate differently if you receive bonuses or commissions; (2) Salaried employees may have different overtime thresholds; (3) Tax estimates are approximations — actual withholding depends on your W-4 settings, filing status, and deductions; (4) Union contracts may have different OT thresholds or calculations. Always verify with your employer’s payroll system or HR for official figures.

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