Overtime Calculator
Work out overtime pay at 1.5x, 2x or a custom rate, by weekly total or day by day, with the federal 40-hour rule and California daily overtime.
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About this toolWhat is the Overtime Calculator?
The Overtime Calculator splits a week into straight-time and overtime hours and prices each at the right rate. Give it your hourly rate and the hours you worked, pick time and a half, double time or a custom multiplier, and it shows regular pay, overtime pay, the week's total and an effective hourly rate.
There are two modes. Weekly total treats every hour over a threshold (40 by default) as overtime, which is the US federal rule. Day by day lets you type each day's hours and choose between the federal rule and California's daily overtime, where long days earn overtime even if the week stays under 40 hours.
A "weeks like this per year" field projects the week across a year, which is handy when overtime is a regular part of the job rather than a one-off.
- Time and a half, double time or any custom multiplier
- Weekly threshold mode and day-by-day mode
- California daily, double-time and seventh-day rules
- Per-day breakdown and yearly projection
- Copy, share link and currency selector
How to use the Overtime Calculator
- Enter your regular hourly rate and choose the overtime rate: time and a half, double time or Custom (for example 1.75x).
- In Weekly total mode, enter the hours worked this week and the threshold where overtime starts. Add any separate double-time hours if your contract pays some hours at 2x.
- For daily rules, switch to Day by day, choose Federal FLSA or California, and enter the hours for each day of the workweek in order.
- Read total weekly pay, overtime pay and effective hourly rate, and check the breakdown table and the per-day split.
- Set weeks per year to see an annual figure, then copy or share the result.
Worked examples
48 hours at $20 an hour
Input
Weekly total, $20/h, 48 hours, overtime after 40, 1.5x
Output
Regular 800.00 + overtime 8 h x 30.00 = 240.00; total 1,040.00; effective 21.67/h
Only the 8 hours above 40 earn the premium. The effective rate shows what the week averaged per hour.
Four 10-hour days: federal vs California
Input
Day by day, $20/h, 10 + 10 + 10 + 10 hours
Output
Federal: 800.00 (no overtime). California: 32 regular + 8 overtime hours = 880.00
The week is exactly 40 hours, so federal law adds nothing. California pays 1.5x for the 2 hours over 8 on each day.
One 13-hour shift in California
Input
Day by day, California, $20/h, a single 13-hour day
Output
8 regular (160.00) + 4 at 1.5x (120.00) + 1 at 2x (40.00) = 320.00
Hours 9 to 12 are time and a half and the 13th hour is double time.
Seven days in a row
Input
California, $10/h, 8 hours on days 1 to 6 and 10 hours on day 7
Output
40 regular, 16 at 1.5x, 2 at 2x; total 680.00
Day 6 pushes straight time past 40, so its 8 hours become overtime. Day 7 is the seventh consecutive day: 8 hours at 1.5x and 2 hours at 2x.
Background and insight
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (29 U.S.C. 207), covered non-exempt employees must be paid at least one and a half times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. The US Department of Labor defines a workweek as a fixed, recurring period of 168 hours (seven 24-hour days) that can start on any day, and hours cannot be averaged across two weeks. Federal law has no daily overtime and does not require extra pay for weekends or holidays as such.
States can add to that. California's Labor Commissioner explains that hours over 8 in a workday (up to 12) are paid at 1.5x, hours over 12 at 2x, and on the seventh consecutive workday of a workweek the first 8 hours are 1.5x and anything beyond 8 is 2x. Weekly overtime over 40 still applies, but hours already paid as daily overtime are not counted again, which is how the day-by-day mode handles it. Other states, union contracts and employer policies vary, so check what applies to you.
The "regular rate" in the law can include more than the base wage: non-discretionary bonuses, shift differentials and commissions raise it. This calculator uses the hourly rate you type, so include those yourself if they apply.
Common use cases
Checking a paycheck
Confirm that overtime on a pay stub was paid at the right multiplier and on the right number of hours.
Deciding on extra shifts
See what a Saturday shift adds to the week before agreeing to it.
Scheduling staff
Compare four 10-hour days with five 8-hour days under California rules to see the cost difference.
Estimating annual earnings
Project a typical overtime week across the year to plan around a higher income.
Tips and limitations
- Salaried employees can still be owed overtime if they are non-exempt. Exemption depends on salary level and duties, not on being paid a salary.
- Paid time off, holidays and sick hours are not hours worked under federal law, so they usually do not count toward the 40.
- Double time is not a federal requirement. It comes from state law (as in California) or from a contract.
- The day-by-day mode counts the seventh-day rule only when all seven days have hours, because the law refers to seven consecutive workdays in the workweek.
- Figures are gross and before tax. Overtime is taxed as ordinary wages, though withholding on a large paycheck can look higher.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate time and a half?
Multiply your hourly rate by 1.5 to get the overtime rate, then multiply by the overtime hours. At $18 an hour, time and a half is $27, so 6 overtime hours add $162.
Is overtime after 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week?
Under federal law it is only after 40 hours in a workweek. A few states, notably California, also require daily overtime after 8 hours in a day. Your state's labor department publishes the rule that applies.
When do you get double time?
Federal law never requires it. California requires 2x for hours over 12 in a day and for hours over 8 on the seventh consecutive workday. Some union contracts and employers pay double time for holidays or Sundays by agreement.
Do holidays and sick days count toward overtime hours?
Not under the FLSA: overtime is based on hours actually worked, and paid leave is not work time. Some employers count them anyway by policy, so check your handbook.
How much is 10 hours of overtime at $25 an hour?
At time and a half the overtime rate is $37.50, so 10 hours is $375 on top of regular pay. With 40 regular hours the week totals $1,375.
Can my employer average hours over two weeks to avoid overtime?
Not under the FLSA. Each workweek stands alone, so 50 hours one week and 30 the next still earns 10 hours of overtime for the first week. Some public-sector and hospital arrangements are exceptions.
Is there an in-depth guide to the Overtime Calculator?
Yes. “Salary, Overtime and Raises: The Pay Maths Explained” covers the background, how it works, common pitfalls and worked examples. Read the full guide.
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