What this measures
Overtime rules are not the same everywhere. Some places calculate it weekly, some daily, and the threshold and rate both vary. Rather than guess at one country's rules, this calculator lets you set your own threshold and multiplier, so it works whether your overtime kicks in after 40 hours a week, 8 hours a day, or something else entirely.
Overtime pay is the extra you earn for hours beyond a set threshold, usually at a higher rate such as time and a half. This overtime calculator does the arithmetic for you, whether you're an employee checking a paycheck, a manager estimating the overtime pay on a schedule, or a business owner budgeting for a busy season.
The formula
Hours up to your threshold are paid at your normal rate. Hours above it are paid at your rate multiplied by whatever overtime rate you enter. If you turn on the second tier, hours above that higher threshold get their own, usually bigger, multiplier on top.
A quick example
Say you earn $30 an hour and work 45 hours in a week, with overtime starting after 40 hours at 1.5 times pay. The first 40 hours pay $1,200. The remaining 5 hours pay $225 (5 times $30 times 1.5), for a total of $1,425. Spread across all 45 hours, that works out to a blended rate of about $31.67 an hour.
Time and a half and double time explained
Time and a half means you're paid 1.5 times your regular hourly rate for overtime hours. Double time means 2 times your regular rate. Which one applies, and after how many hours, depends on your location, your contract, and sometimes your industry or the day of the week, so enter the numbers that apply to you. Use the multiplier field for time and a half, and turn on the second tier if part of your hours are paid at double time.
To work out time and a half yourself, multiply your hourly rate by 1.5. At $18 an hour that's $27 an hour, and at $21 an hour it's $31.50. Double time is the same idea with 2 instead: $36 and $42 an hour at those rates. The table below covers some common rates.
| Regular hourly rate | Time and a half (1.5 times) | Double time (2 times) |
|---|---|---|
| $15 | $22.50 | $30.00 |
| $18 | $27.00 | $36.00 |
| $20 | $30.00 | $40.00 |
| $21 | $31.50 | $42.00 |
| $25 | $37.50 | $50.00 |
| $30 | $45.00 | $60.00 |
Those figures are the hourly rate only. To see the total for a week or pay period, enter your hours into the calculator above, which applies the multiplier only to the hours past your threshold.
Overtime for salaried employees
Overtime with salaried employees is a common point of confusion, and the short answer is that being paid a salary doesn't automatically rule overtime out. In many places, including the United States, whether a salaried employee is owed overtime depends on how the role is classified, usually described as exempt or non-exempt. Classification generally turns on the salary level, how the salary is paid, and the duties the person actually performs, not the job title or the fact that they're salaried.
A salaried employee who is classed as non-exempt is generally entitled to overtime pay in the same way an hourly worker is, with the salary converted to an hourly rate to work out the extra. An employee who is properly classed as exempt usually isn't. The thresholds and tests change over time and differ by country and state, which is why we don't hard code them here. If you're unsure which applies to you, your employer's HR team or your local labor department is the right place to check.
To estimate what overtime would be worth on a salary, switch the calculator to annual salary and enter your hours, threshold and multiplier. It converts the salary using a standard 2,080 hour year, which is a reasonable estimate but not the only method an employer might use. Employers budgeting for overtime can also see how it adds to the full cost of a role with the Employee Cost Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate overtime pay?
Multiply your hourly rate by your overtime multiplier, then multiply that by the number of overtime hours, and add it to your regular pay. For example, at $30 an hour with 45 hours worked and overtime starting after 40 hours at time and a half, regular pay is 40 times $30, which is $1,200, and overtime pay is 5 times $30 times 1.5, which is $225, for a total of $1,425. If you're paid a salary, divide it by 2,080 first to get an hourly rate.
Do salaried employees get overtime?
Sometimes. Whether you get overtime on a salary depends on how your role is classified where you work, often as exempt or non-exempt, based on factors like the salary level and the duties you actually perform. A salaried employee classed as non-exempt is generally entitled to overtime pay, while one who is properly classed as exempt usually isn't. Being salaried doesn't decide it on its own, so check with your employer or local labor department, because the rules and thresholds vary and change over time.
What is time and a half for $18 an hour?
Time and a half means 1.5 times your regular rate, so at $18 an hour it's $27 an hour (18 times 1.5). The same method works at any rate: at $21 an hour, time and a half is $31.50 an hour. Double time uses 2 instead of 1.5, so it comes to $36 and $42 an hour at those two rates.
Why doesn't this just use my country's official overtime rule?
Because there isn't one single rule. Overtime thresholds and multipliers differ by country, and often by state or industry within the same country. Rather than build in one set of rules and get it wrong for everyone else, this calculator asks for your actual threshold and multiplier so it works correctly wherever you are.
What does the second tier actually model?
Some places pay an even higher rate once you work past a second, higher number of hours, often called double-time. Turn on the second tier and set that threshold and its multiplier, and hours worked beyond it are paid at the higher rate instead of the first overtime rate.
Does this handle daily and weekly overtime at the same time?
No, and it's worth being upfront about that. Some places require checking both a daily limit and a weekly limit together, then paying whichever is more generous, without double counting the same hours twice. That reconciliation is genuinely complex, so this tool sticks to one period and one set of thresholds at a time rather than risk getting the combined case wrong. Run it once for your daily rule and once for your weekly rule if you need to check both.
Can I use an annual salary instead of an hourly rate?
Yes. Switch "I know my" to annual salary above, and it converts to an hourly rate using a standard 2,080 hour work year (40 hours a week for 52 weeks). Whether a salaried role is even entitled to overtime pay depends on its classification where you work, which this calculator doesn't determine for you. The section above on overtime for salaried employees explains what usually decides it.
Is this legal advice or a compliance guarantee?
No. It's a planning estimate based on the numbers you enter. Overtime law is genuinely detailed and varies by location, so check your local rules or a qualified professional before relying on this for an actual pay dispute or payroll decision.
Does PTO count towards overtime?
Usually not. In the United States, federal rules base overtime on hours actually worked, so paid time off such as vacation, sick leave or holidays generally isn't counted toward the overtime threshold. Some employers, union contracts and local rules are more generous, so check your own policy. If you're working out what unused time off is worth, the PTO Payout Calculator covers that.
What is mandatory overtime?
Mandatory overtime is overtime your employer requires you to work, rather than offering it as optional. Whether it's allowed, and any limits on how much or how much notice you must be given, depends on where you work, your industry and any contract or union agreement. Where overtime pay rules apply, required overtime is paid at the overtime rate in the same way as voluntary overtime.
How much overtime is too much overtime?
There's no universal limit. Some places cap weekly hours or require rest breaks and others don't, so it depends on local rules, your contract and your industry. As a practical test, if overtime is regular rather than occasional, it's worth asking whether the work needs more staff, since long stretches of extra hours can affect rest and wellbeing. For employers, overtime also costs more per hour than regular time, which the blended rate in the calculator above shows clearly.