How to Use the Overtime Calculator
Enter your total hours worked for the period — either as a single decimal (like 45) or as hours and minutes using the toggle. Set the regular hours threshold (40 by default), the overtime multiplier (1.5× by default) and, optionally, your hourly rate. The calculator instantly splits your hours into regular and overtime, works out the overtime rate, and estimates regular pay, overtime pay and total pay. Leave the hourly rate blank to calculate hours only.
How Overtime Is Calculated
Hours up to the threshold count as regular hours; anything above the threshold counts as overtime hours. If you worked fewer hours than the threshold, all your hours are regular and overtime is zero. If you worked more, the excess is overtime. The calculator does this split automatically from your total and threshold.
Regular Hours = min(Total Hours, Threshold)
Overtime Hours = max(Total Hours − Threshold, 0)
Overtime Pay Formula
The overtime rate is your base hourly rate multiplied by the overtime multiplier. Overtime pay is the overtime hours multiplied by that overtime rate. Total pay is regular pay plus overtime pay:
Overtime Rate = Hourly Rate × Overtime Multiplier
Overtime Pay = Overtime Hours × Overtime Rate
Total Pay = (Regular Hours × Hourly Rate) + Overtime Pay
Overtime Calculation Example
45 hours worked, $20/hour, 40-hour threshold, 1.5× multiplier:
- Regular hours = 40
- Overtime hours = 5
- Regular pay = 40 × $20 = $800
- Overtime rate = $20 × 1.5 = $30/hour
- Overtime pay = 5 × $30 = $150
- Total estimated pay = $800 + $150 = $950
What Does Time-and-a-Half Mean?
Time-and-a-half is an overtime multiplier of 1.5×, which means overtime hours are paid at 150% of your base hourly rate. At a base rate of $20/hour, the time-and-a-half rate is $20 × 1.5 = $30/hour. It is the most common overtime multiplier, but it is not universal — rules vary by employer, contract and jurisdiction.
Double Time
Double time is an overtime multiplier of 2×, which means overtime hours are paid at twice your base hourly rate. At a base rate of $20/hour, the double-time rate is $20 × 2 = $40/hour. Some agreements also use 2.5× or other multipliers for specific situations — this calculator supports any multiplier greater than zero.
Overtime Hours Without Pay
If you only want to know how many of your hours are regular and how many are overtime, leave the hourly rate blank. The calculator still splits your total into regular and overtime hours — it just hides the monetary results until you enter a rate. This is useful when you know your hours but have not agreed a rate yet, or when you want to check the hour split before working out pay.
Overtime Calculator vs Timesheet Calculator
The Timesheet Calculator totals the hours you worked each day into a weekly or biweekly figure. The Overtime Calculator takes a total hours figure and splits it into regular and overtime hours, then optionally estimates pay. Use the Timesheet Calculator to add up your week first, then bring that total here to see the regular/overtime split and the pay estimate.
Common Overtime Calculation Mistakes
- Using the wrong threshold. Overtime starts at the threshold you set, not always 40 hours. Check your contract or local rules before assuming.
- Multiplying all hours by the overtime rate. Only the hours above the threshold get the multiplier. Regular hours are paid at the base rate.
- Incorrect decimal-hour conversion. 30 minutes is 0.50 hours, not 0.30. Minutes are divided by 60, not treated as cents.
- Forgetting the base regular pay. Total pay is regular pay plus overtime pay, not just the overtime portion.
- Using the wrong multiplier. 1.5× is common but not required. Some agreements use 1.25×, 2× or 2.5× — enter the one that applies to you.
FAQs
- How do I calculate overtime hours?
- Subtract the regular hours threshold from your total hours worked. If the result is positive, that is your overtime; if it is zero or negative, you have no overtime. For 45 hours with a 40-hour threshold, overtime is 5 hours.
- How do I calculate overtime pay?
- Multiply your hourly rate by the overtime multiplier to get the overtime rate, then multiply that by your overtime hours. Add the regular pay (regular hours × hourly rate) to get the total. This calculator does every step for you.
- What is time-and-a-half?
- Time-and-a-half means an overtime multiplier of 1.5×, so overtime hours are paid at 150% of your base hourly rate. At $20/hour, the overtime rate is $30/hour.
- What is double time?
- Double time means an overtime multiplier of 2×, so overtime hours are paid at twice your base hourly rate. At $20/hour, the double-time rate is $40/hour.
- How much overtime is 45 hours with a 40-hour threshold?
- 45 hours minus a 40-hour threshold is 5 hours of overtime. At $20/hour and 1.5×, that is 40 regular hours ($800) plus 5 overtime hours at $30/hour ($150), for a total of $950.
- How do I calculate overtime without an hourly rate?
- Leave the hourly rate blank. The calculator still splits your total hours into regular and overtime hours — it just hides the monetary results until you add a rate.
- Is 30 minutes equal to 0.5 hours?
- Yes. 30 minutes is half an hour, so 30 ÷ 60 = 0.50 decimal hours. It is not 0.30 — minutes are divided by 60, not treated as cents. 15 minutes is 0.25 and 45 minutes is 0.75.
- Can I change the overtime threshold?
- Yes. The threshold defaults to 40 hours but is fully editable. Set it to whatever your contract, union agreement or local rules require. The threshold must be greater than zero.
- Can I change the overtime multiplier?
- Yes. The multiplier defaults to 1.5× (time-and-a-half) but you can enter 1.25×, 2×, 2.5× or any other value greater than zero. Overtime rules vary, so do not assume 1.5× is required.