How do I work out my holiday pay?

For workers who want to check their holiday pay, including people on irregular or zero hours.

Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

You get a week's pay for each week of statutory holiday you take.

Most workers get 5.6 weeks' paid holiday a year, which is 28 days for a 5-day week.
Regular hours and pay: a week's holiday pays your normal weekly pay.
Irregular hours: holiday pay is your average weekly pay over the last 52 paid weeks.
Irregular hours and part-year workers build up holiday at 12.07% of hours worked.
Normal pay includes commission and regular overtime. Bonuses usually do not count.
GOV.UK's calculator works out how much leave you get, not your pay.

Different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Rules may be different in:

Northern Ireland: Check nidirect for Northern Ireland

Key facts

A week's pay per week off
5.6 weeks a year (28 days max)
Irregular hours: 12.07% accrual
Average of last 52 paid weeks

The basic rules

Almost all workers get 5.6 weeks' paid holiday a year. For someone working 5 days a week that is 28 days. The legal maximum is 28 days, even if you work 6 days a week. Part-time workers get the same 5.6 weeks, worked out on the days they do. For example, 3 days a week x 5.6 = 16.8 days.

Bank holidays do not have to be given as paid leave. Your employer can count them as part of your 5.6 weeks.

How holiday pay is worked out

Your work pattern	What a week of holiday pays
Regular hours, fixed pay	Your normal weekly pay
Shifts, regular hours	Your average weekly fixed hours over the last 52 weeks, at your average hourly rate
Irregular hours or part-year	Your average weekly pay over the last 52 weeks you were paid

If you had weeks with no pay, your employer looks back up to 104 weeks to find 52 paid weeks.

"Normal" pay includes commission, regular overtime, and payments linked to length of service or professional qualifications. Bonuses usually do not count.

Worked example 1: regular hours

Amir works 5 days a week and earns £600 a week.

One week of holiday pays £600.
One day of holiday pays £600 / 5 = £120.
His full 5.6 weeks are worth £600 x 5.6 = £3,360 a year.

Worked example 2: irregular hours

Jess works irregular hours. Over her last 52 paid weeks she earned £18,200 in total.

Her average weekly pay is £18,200 / 52 = £350.
A week of holiday pays £350.

She also builds up holiday at 12.07% of the hours she works. In a pay period where she works 30 hours, she builds up 30 x 12.07% = 3.62 hours of paid holiday.

Rolled-up holiday pay

For irregular hours and part-year workers, employers can choose to pay holiday pay with each payslip instead of when you take time off. This is called rolled-up holiday pay. It must be 12.07% of your total pay for the period and shown as a separate line on your payslip.

For example, if you earn £400 in a week, rolled-up holiday pay is £400 x 12.07% = £48.28.

Employers cannot do this for regular-hours workers, whether full or part time.

What changes the amount

Your pattern of work. Regular or irregular hours use different methods.
Overtime and commission. Regular payments push the average up.
Starting mid-year. You only get part of your yearly leave.
Your contract. Many employers give more than the legal minimum.

From 6 April 2026, employers must keep records of annual leave and holiday pay for at least 6 years.

If you live in Northern Ireland

You also get 5.6 weeks (28 days for a 5-day week), and bank holidays can count towards it. The 12.07% and rolled-up pay rules above are for Great Britain. Check nidirect for the Northern Ireland rules.

Related guides

Where these figures come from

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Calculate holiday entitlement

Common questions

Is there a GOV.UK holiday pay calculator?

GOV.UK has a holiday entitlement calculator, which tells you how much leave you get. It does not calculate the money.

Does overtime count in holiday pay?

Regular overtime, commission and payments linked to length of service or qualifications count. Bonuses usually do not.

Can my employer add holiday pay to my hourly rate?

Only for irregular hours or part-year workers. For regular-hours workers this is not allowed.

Official sources

1.Holiday pay (GOV.UK)www.gov.uk/holiday-entitlement-rights/holiday-pay
2.Holiday entitlement (GOV.UK)www.gov.uk/holiday-entitlement-rights
3.Holiday pay and entitlement reforms (GOV.UK)www.gov.uk/government/publications/simplifying-holiday-entitlement-and-holiday-pay-calculations/holiday-pay-and-entitlement-reforms-from-1-january-2024
4.Calculate holiday entitlement (GOV.UK)www.gov.uk/calculate-your-holiday-entitlement

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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