🇬🇧 UK · 2026/27 · Free

Time and a Half Calculator

Last updated: 09 September 2026 · 2026/27 UK tax year

LIVE: 2026/27 Tax Year Rates Active

Time and a Half Quick Facts:

The Math: Time and a half is 1.5 × your regular hourly wage. (e.g., £12/hr becomes £18/hr).
Tax Rate: Time and a half is taxed at your regular Income Tax rate (20% or 40%), plus National Insurance.
Legal Minimum: Employers do not legally have to pay time and a half in the UK, but your average pay cannot fall below minimum wage.
Double Time: Means 2.0 × your hourly wage, often paid on Sundays or bank holidays.

Calculate your time and a half rate, total gross overtime pay, and see exactly what you keep after UK Income Tax and National Insurance.

How is it calculated? ↓Overtime Tax Calculator →

Your details

Regular Hourly Rate

Overtime Hours Worked

Regular Hours per Week (to estimate tax)

Tax Code

NI Category

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Enter your hourly rate and overtime hours to calculate time and a half.

What is time and a half?

Time and a half is an overtime pay rate that pays you your standard hourly wage plus an additional 50% for every extra hour you work. This means you earn 1.5 times your normal rate.

For example, if you normally earn £12 per hour, your time and a half rate would be £18 per hour (£12 × 1.5).

🚨 The Overtime Tax Illusion

Because PAYE systems annualise your pay for the month, doing a lot of time and a half in one month can temporarily trick the system into taxing some of your income at 40% (if it thinks your new annual salary exceeds £50,270). This usually self-corrects in the following month.

How to calculate time and a half manually

You can calculate your time and a half pay in two easy steps:

Multiply your regular hourly rate by 1.5 to get your time and a half rate.
Multiply that new rate by the number of overtime hours worked.

Example Calculation

If your regular pay is £14.00/hr and you work 8 hours of overtime:
Time and a half rate = £14.00 × 1.5 = £21.00/hr
Total gross overtime pay = £21.00 × 8 = £168.00

Is time and a half mandatory in the UK?

No. Unlike in some other countries, there is no legal requirement for employers in the UK to pay an enhanced rate (like time and a half or double time) for working overtime, nights, weekends, or bank holidays.

Your right to time and a half depends entirely on your employment contract. Many employers do offer it as an incentive, but they are only legally required to ensure your total pay for the pay period does not fall below the National Minimum Wage on average.

Reduce your overtime tax bill

If your time and a half is getting heavily taxed, you could save money by paying the extra into your pension via salary sacrifice instead.

Salary Sacrifice Calculator →

Time and a half — your questions answered

How do you calculate time and a half?

Time and a half is calculated by multiplying your regular hourly rate by 1.5. For example, if you earn £12 per hour, your time and a half rate is £18 per hour (£12 × 1.5 = £18). You then multiply this new rate by the number of overtime hours worked.

Is time and a half taxed differently?

No. Your gross pay from time and a half is added to your regular wages and taxed at your normal Income Tax and National Insurance rates. It is not taxed at a special penalty rate, although the extra income might push you into a higher tax bracket for that month.

Is it a legal requirement to pay time and a half in the UK?

No. UK employers are not legally required to pay time and a half or double time for overtime, weekends, or bank holidays. However, your average pay across all hours worked must not fall below the National Minimum Wage.

What is double time?

Double time means you get paid twice your normal hourly rate. If your standard rate is £12/hour, double time is £24/hour. This is often paid for working on bank holidays or Sundays, depending on your employment contract.

Do I pay National Insurance on time and a half pay?

Yes. All overtime earnings are subject to Class 1 National Insurance contributions, normally at 8% for basic rate taxpayers and 2% for higher rate taxpayers.