Overtime Pay Calculator

Overtime pay is the premium an employer owes for hours worked beyond the normal threshold. In many places the standard is one-and-a-half times the regular rate after a set number of hours, with double time reserved for extreme cases such as a seventh consecutive day or public holidays. The exact rules differ by country and often by contract, so treat the multiplier here as an input you confirm against your own agreement.

The reason the premium matters goes beyond fairness. It changes the incentive on both sides. A worker deciding whether to take an extra shift is really comparing the marginal pay against the marginal cost in rest and time; time-and-a-half tips that calculation. An employer scheduling staff weighs the same figure, which is why some roles quietly cap hours just below the threshold.

Getting the maths right requires separating the types of hour. Regular hours pay the base rate. Overtime hours pay the premium. Double-time hours pay twice. They should be totalled separately, because lumping them together hides how much of the cheque is premium and makes an error hard to spot.

A common dispute is the rate the premium applies to. It is usually based on the regular rate, and in some jurisdictions that includes certain bonuses or shift differentials, which raises the multiplier's value. Another is whether overtime is authorised in advance; many employers pay only for approved hours, even when the work was implicitly expected.

This calculator totals gross pay for a period. It is a planning and verification aid, not legal or tax advice — check your local rules and your contract for the rates that legally apply to you.

This calculator returns estimates for general information only. It is not financial, investment, tax or legal advice, and it cannot replace guidance from a qualified professional who knows your circumstances. Figures such as loan payments, investment growth and retirement projections are simplified models based on the inputs and assumptions you provide, not guarantees of future results.