Overtime Calculator
Last updated: 14 August 2026
Reviewed by Gavin · Research and drafting assisted by AI
- The standard 40-hour work week was popularised in the United States by Henry Ford in 1926, and the 1.5x time-and-a-half overtime premium became the default reference rate soon after.
- If you work 10 hours of overtime at double time, you are paid the same as working 20 hours at your normal rate — the premium is what makes extra hours valuable.
- Overtime rules differ sharply by country: some define it by hours over 40 in a week, others by a daily limit, and salaried or exempt roles may have no overtime entitlement at all.
Overtime Calculator
An overtime calculator works out how much you earn when you work more than your regular hours. It multiplies your hourly rate by the number of overtime hours and by an overtime multiplier, then adds that to your regular pay. It is used by hourly workers checking a pay slip, by employers estimating payroll, and by anyone negotiating a rate who wants to see exactly what extra hours are worth.
Overtime is usually paid at a premium above the normal hourly rate. The most common multiplier is time-and-a-half, written as 1.5 times the normal rate, but double time (2.0 times) and higher rates are also common. Because the premium rate varies by employer, industry, and local law, this calculator lets you choose the multiplier rather than assuming one. It performs the arithmetic; it does not decide which multiplier applies to your situation.
How to Use the Overtime Calculator
- Enter your normal hourly rate in the first field.
- Enter the number of regular hours you worked in the pay period. A standard full-time week is 40 hours.
- Enter the number of overtime hours you worked.
- Choose the overtime multiplier: time-and-a-half (1.5x), double time (2.0x), or double time and a half (2.5x).
- Read your regular pay, overtime pay, and total pay below.
The calculator updates when you press Calculate. Your inputs stay in your browser and are never sent to a server.
The Overtime Formula
The calculation has three parts:
- Regular pay = hourly rate × regular hours
- Overtime pay = hourly rate × multiplier × overtime hours
- Total pay = regular pay + overtime pay
Written with variables:
- R = hourly rate
- H = regular hours
- O = overtime hours
- M = overtime multiplier
Total pay = R × H + R × M × O
Because the hourly rate R appears in both terms, the formula can also be written as:
Total pay = R × (H + M × O)
Worked Examples
Example 1, Time-and-a-half. You earn $20 an hour, work 40 regular hours, and 5 hours of overtime at 1.5x.
- Regular pay: $20 × 40 = $800.
- Overtime pay: $20 × 1.5 × 5 = $150.
- Total pay: $800 + $150 = $950.
Example 2, Double time. You earn $15 an hour, work 40 regular hours, and 10 hours of overtime at 2.0x.
- Regular pay: $15 × 40 = $600.
- Overtime pay: $15 × 2.0 × 10 = $300.
- Total pay: $600 + $300 = $900.
Example 3, No overtime. You earn $25 an hour and work 40 hours with no overtime.
- Regular pay: $25 × 40 = $1,000.
- Overtime pay: $25 × 1.5 × 0 = $0.
- Total pay: $1,000.
Common Multiplier Table
| Multiplier | Name | Example: $20/hour for 5 overtime hours |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0x | Straight time | $100 |
| 1.5x | Time-and-a-half | $150 |
| 2.0x | Double time | $200 |
| 2.5x | Double time and a half | $250 |
When Overtime Pay Applies
This calculator does not determine whether you are entitled to overtime or which multiplier your employer must pay. Overtime eligibility, thresholds, and rates are set by employment law, which differs by country, state, and role. For example, some jurisdictions define overtime as any hours beyond 40 in a week, others use daily limits, and salaried or exempt roles may have no overtime entitlement at all. Use this tool to do the arithmetic once you know your applicable rate; check your contract and local labour rules for the rate itself.
Understanding Overtime Multipliers
The overtime multiplier is the number your normal hourly rate is multiplied by for hours worked beyond the regular schedule. Time-and-a-half is the most common and means one and a half times your normal rate, written as 1.5x or 150%. Double time means twice your normal rate, written as 2.0x or 200%, and is often reserved for weekends, public holidays, or very long shifts. Double time and a half, 2.5x, is rarer and typically appears in union contracts for particularly demanding schedules.
The multiplier matters more than most people expect. Moving from straight time to time-and-a-half is a 50% increase on every overtime hour, and moving to double time doubles it. When comparing two job offers, run both through this calculator rather than comparing base rates alone. A lower base rate with guaranteed double time can pay more in total than a higher base rate with no overtime premium at all. Choosing the right multiplier is therefore the single most important step in getting an accurate overtime figure.
Overtime and Pay Periods
The calculator works on a single pay period. To see the effect over a longer horizon, run the numbers and multiply. If you work five overtime hours every week, multiply the overtime pay figure by 52 for an annual estimate, by 4 for a rough monthly figure, or by 2 for a biweekly one. Actual payroll then deducts tax, retirement contributions, and other withholdings, which this calculator does not apply. The figures here are gross pay, the amount earned before any deductions.
Separating regular and overtime hours correctly matters. If you work 42 hours in a week and the first 40 are regular time, only 2 hours are overtime, not all 42. Entering the wrong split overstates the result, because regular hours are paid once while overtime hours are paid at the premium rate.
Overtime, Holiday Pay, and Shift Differentials
Overtime pay is not the only kind of premium pay. Holiday pay often uses a higher multiplier, such as double time, but is triggered by the calendar rather than by hours worked. A shift differential is a fixed extra amount per hour, such as an extra $2 for night work, added before any overtime multiplier is applied. This calculator handles a flat hourly rate with a multiplier. If your employer stacks a differential on top, add the differential to your hourly rate before entering it, so the overtime multiplier applies to the combined rate.
Worked Example with Partial Hours
You earn $18 an hour and work 35 regular hours plus 8 overtime hours at time-and-a-half.
- Regular pay: $18 × 35 = $630.
- Overtime rate: $18 × 1.5 = $27 per hour.
- Overtime pay: $27 × 8 = $216.
- Total pay: $630 + $216 = $846.
If the same person worked no overtime, they would earn only $630 for the week, so the 8 extra hours added $216, worth three times as much per hour as regular time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is time-and-a-half?
Time-and-a-half means one and a half times your normal hourly rate, or a multiplier of 1.5. If you earn $20 an hour, time-and-a-half is $30 an hour.
How do I calculate overtime pay?
Multiply your hourly rate by the overtime multiplier, then multiply by the number of overtime hours. For example, $20 per hour at 1.5x for 5 hours is $20 × 1.5 × 5 = $150.
Does overtime count toward my total hours?
Yes. Total hours worked is regular hours plus overtime hours. The difference is that overtime hours are paid at a higher rate, so they are calculated separately before being added together.
Is double time the same as double the hours?
No. Double time is a rate of 2.0 times your normal hourly rate for certain hours, not double the number of hours. Ten hours at double time pays the same as twenty hours at straight time.
What if I work more than 40 hours?
Whether hours beyond 40 are paid at a premium depends on your contract and the employment law that applies to you. If those hours are overtime, enter them in the overtime field; otherwise enter them as regular hours at your normal rate.
Can this calculator handle different multipliers?
Yes. You can choose 1.5x, 2.0x, or 2.5x from the dropdown. If your employer uses a different multiplier, use the arithmetic in the formula section to adjust: overtime pay equals rate times multiplier times hours.
Do I calculate overtime on gross or net pay?
Overtime is calculated on your gross hourly rate, before tax and other deductions. The calculator shows gross pay. Your take-home pay is lower after tax, retirement contributions, and other withholdings are applied.
What is double time and a half?
Double time and a half is 2.5 times your normal hourly rate. At $20 an hour, that is $50 an hour. It is uncommon and usually appears in union agreements or for specific holiday or emergency shifts.
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- Loan Calculator, plan payments once you know your income.
Sources
The overtime arithmetic in this tool is elementary multiplication and does not depend on any external formula reference. Multiplier conventions (1.5x and 2.0x) are standard payroll practice. Employment-law thresholds vary by jurisdiction and are intentionally not encoded here.
For the Overtime Calculator, Practical Use and Validation Notes A short section to help readers get the most out of this tool and avoid the most common pitfalls. For the Overtime Calculator, the quick-reference table below covers the typical inputs a user will paste, the expected output, and which selection or preset to choose. It is intentionally short, the Overtime Calculator formulas and worked examples above already carry the heavy math; this section is the "housekeeping" notes that travel with the tool.
Quick-start workflow
- For the Overtime Calculator, Open the tool from the home page or the relevant category page.
- For the Overtime Calculator, Enter the value(s) requested in the input field(s). For the Overtime Calculator, Decimal values are accepted everywhere; thousand separators are not required.
- For the Overtime Calculator, Read the result in the highlighted output. For the Overtime Calculator, If the tool exposes multiple units or modes, pick the one that matches your downstream use.
- Use the Copy button (where available) to copy the exact value to your clipboard. For the Overtime Calculator, the copied value carries the same number of decimal places as the on-screen display.
- For the Overtime Calculator, Refresh the page if you change units or categories mid-session, some calculators reset dependent fields when the mode changes.
Common pitfalls
- Entering the wrong unit. For the Overtime Calculator, the most common input error is pasting a value in the wrong unit (e.g. For the Overtime Calculator, Entering minutes-per-mile instead of minutes-per-kilometre). For the Overtime Calculator, Double-check the input label before relying on the result.
- Assuming the default is your answer. For the Overtime Calculator, Each tool opens with a placeholder default value (usually 1) that produces a meaningful output but is rarely the answer you actually need. For the Overtime Calculator, Type your own value rather than relying on the default.
- For the Overtime Calculator, Forgetting to clear the field before pasting. For the Overtime Calculator, Some browsers preserve the previous input value when you paste, leading to concatenated strings. Click the field, press ⌘A (or Ctrl+A), then paste.
- Rounding too early. For the Overtime Calculator, A calculator that displays 4 decimal places is precise enough for routine use. For the Overtime Calculator, If you need to feed the result into another calculation, leave the full precision intact and round only at the very end.