Pay Calculator
Overtime
Calculator
Standard Week
37.5 hrs
Max Weekly Hours
48 hrs
Work out exactly how much your overtime is worth. Enter your hourly rate, standard working hours, overtime hours per week and your overtime rate multiplier to instantly see your weekly and annual overtime earnings. Compare your total pay with and without overtime and see the percentage boost to your income. All figures shown are gross pay before tax and deductions.
Overtime Details
Total Annual Pay (Base + Overtime)
£0
Overtime Hourly Rate
£0
Weekly Overtime Pay
£0
Annual Overtime Pay
£0
Pay Increase
0%
Standard Weekly Pay
£0
Standard Annual Pay
£0
How the overtime calculator works
This calculator takes your base hourly rate and multiplies it by your chosen overtime multiplier to find your overtime hourly rate. For example, if you earn £15 per hour and your employer pays time and a half (1.5x), your overtime rate is £22.50 per hour.
Your weekly overtime pay is calculated by multiplying the overtime hourly rate by the number of overtime hours you work each week. The annual figure simply multiplies the weekly overtime by 52 weeks. The calculator also shows your standard base pay (hourly rate × standard hours × 52) so you can see the complete picture.
The total annual pay combines your standard earnings and overtime earnings for the full year. The percentage increase shows how much extra income overtime adds compared to your base pay alone, making it easy to see whether those extra hours are worthwhile.
All inputs update results instantly. Use the sliders for quick adjustments or type precise values directly into the number fields. The overtime rate multiplier dropdown covers the most common UK overtime structures: standard rate (1x), 1.25x, time and a half (1.5x) and double time (2x).
What you need to know about overtime pay in the UK
There is no legal right to overtime pay in the UK beyond the requirement that your average hourly rate must not fall below the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage for your age group. Any overtime premium — time and a half, double time or other enhanced rates — is a contractual arrangement between you and your employer, not a legal requirement.
The Working Time Regulations 1998 limit the average working week to 48 hours, calculated over a 17-week reference period. This includes overtime. Workers aged 18 and over can opt out of this limit voluntarily by signing a written agreement, but employers cannot force you to opt out or treat you unfairly for refusing.
Overtime pay is taxed as normal earnings through PAYE. It is added to your gross pay for the period and taxed at whatever Income Tax band applies. If overtime pushes your total earnings above £50,270, the portion above that threshold is taxed at the 40% higher rate. National Insurance contributions also apply to overtime earnings above the primary threshold of £12,570.
If you regularly work overtime, your employer should factor it into your holiday pay calculation for the first four weeks of statutory annual leave. This was established through a series of UK employment tribunal rulings. Voluntary overtime that follows a regular pattern should also be included.
Under auto-enrolment pension rules, overtime counts as qualifying earnings between £6,240 and £50,270. Both employee and employer pension contributions increase when overtime pushes your total pay higher within that band, which can boost your retirement savings over time.
Frequently asked questions
Is overtime compulsory in the UK?
Your employer can only require you to work overtime if it is written into your contract of employment. If your contract does not mention overtime, you generally have the right to refuse it. However, some contracts include a clause stating that ‘reasonable overtime’ may be required. Even where overtime is compulsory, the total hours you work must stay within the limits set by the Working Time Regulations 1998 — a maximum average of 48 hours per week unless you have opted out in writing.
Do I have to be paid at least the minimum wage for overtime?
Yes. All hours worked, including overtime, must be paid at or above the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage for your age group. From April 2024, the National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over is £11.44 per hour. If overtime brings your average hourly rate below the minimum wage threshold, your employer is breaking the law. There is no legal requirement to pay a premium rate for overtime hours, but many employers choose to offer time and a half (1.5x) or double time (2x).
Is overtime taxed differently in the UK?
Overtime pay is taxed in exactly the same way as your regular earnings. It is added to your total gross income for the pay period and taxed through PAYE at whatever Income Tax band applies. If your overtime pushes your earnings into a higher tax band, the portion above the threshold will be taxed at the higher rate. You will also pay National Insurance contributions on overtime earnings above the primary threshold. There is no special tax relief or exemption for overtime.
Does overtime count towards holiday pay?
If you regularly work overtime, it should be included in the calculation of your holiday pay for the first four weeks of statutory annual leave (the EU-derived entitlement). This was confirmed by a series of UK employment tribunal and court rulings. Both compulsory and voluntary overtime that is worked regularly enough to form a pattern should be factored in. The additional 1.6 weeks of statutory leave (making up the 5.6-week total) can still be paid at basic rate only.
What is the Working Time Directive and how does it affect overtime?
The Working Time Regulations 1998 (the UK implementation of the EU Working Time Directive) limit the average working week to 48 hours, calculated over a 17-week reference period. This includes overtime. Workers aged 18 and over can voluntarily opt out of the 48-hour limit by signing a written agreement, but employers cannot force you to opt out or penalise you for refusing. Workers under 18 cannot work more than 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week.
Does overtime affect my workplace pension contributions?
Under auto-enrolment rules, pension contributions are calculated on ‘qualifying earnings’ — income between £6,240 and £50,270 per year (2024/25 thresholds). Overtime pay counts as qualifying earnings, so if your overtime pushes your total pay higher within that band, both you and your employer will contribute more to your pension. Some employers use a different pensionable pay definition in their scheme, so check your pension terms. Higher overtime can mean a larger pension pot over time.