How UK work hours and pay are calculated
Standard contracted hours and overtime hours are tallied for the working week. Unpaid lunch or rest breaks are deducted from contracted hours.
Under the UK Working Time Regulations 1998, workers are entitled to one uninterrupted 20-minute rest break during a working day that exceeds 6 hours.
Worked example
For an employee contracted at 37.5 hours with 5 overtime hours at 1.5x, taking 150 minutes of unpaid breaks, on a base rate of £15 per hour:
Unpaid breaks equal 2.5 hours, leaving 35 net regular hours (£525.00) plus 5 overtime hours at £22.50/hr (£112.50), resulting in £637.50 total weekly gross pay.
Inputs for the work hours calculator
Standard weekly contracted hours
Your regular contracted weekly working hours before overtime.
Overtime hours worked
Additional hours worked during the week beyond your contract.
Weekly unpaid breaks
Total unpaid lunch and rest break minutes across the entire week.
Base hourly pay rate
Your regular hourly wage before overtime premiums.
Overtime pay rate multiplier
The multiplier applied to your base wage for overtime (e.g. 1.5x for time and a half).
CALCULATOR QUESTIONS
Work hours calculator questions
Are rest breaks legally paid in the UK?
Under UK law, employers are required to provide a 20-minute break for shifts over 6 hours, but there is no statutory requirement for breaks to be paid unless stated in your employment contract.
What is the UK maximum weekly working hours limit?
The Working Time Regulations limit the average working week to 48 hours, unless an employee has signed an opt-out agreement.