How to calculate overtime pay
- Choose how to enter hours. Enter total hours and the limit where overtime starts, or enter regular and overtime hours separately if your pay stub already splits them.
- Enter your base hourly rate and the overtime multiplier: 1.5 for time and a half.
- Add double time if some hours are paid at twice your rate.
- Read the breakdown. Regular, overtime, and double-time pay are listed separately, with the overtime premium and your effective hourly rate.
Have a week of clock times instead of hour totals? The time card calculator works out overtime from your daily punches.
Overtime pay formula
Worked example: a 45-hour week at $20
$20.00 an hour, 45 hours, overtime after 40 at time and a half
- Regular pay: 40 hours × $20.00 = $800.00.
- Overtime rate: $20.00 × 1.5 = $30.00. Overtime pay: 5 hours × $30.00 = $150.00.
- Total gross pay: $950.00, an effective $21.11 an hour.
- Add 3 double-time hours at $40.00 and the total becomes $1,070.00.
Overtime rate table
Hourly overtime rates for common base rates.
| Base rate | Time and a half (1.5×) | Double time (2×) |
|---|---|---|
| $12.00 | $18.00 | $24.00 |
| $15.00 | $22.50 | $30.00 |
| $16.00 | $24.00 | $32.00 |
| $18.00 | $27.00 | $36.00 |
| $20.00 | $30.00 | $40.00 |
| $22.00 | $33.00 | $44.00 |
| $25.00 | $37.50 | $50.00 |
| $28.00 | $42.00 | $56.00 |
| $30.00 | $45.00 | $60.00 |
| $35.00 | $52.50 | $70.00 |
| $40.00 | $60.00 | $80.00 |
| $50.00 | $75.00 | $100.00 |
Overtime rules to check
For a step-by-step explanation, including how bonuses change the overtime rate, read how overtime pay is calculated.
The calculator estimates pay from the rules you enter. It does not decide whether you are owed overtime. Points worth checking with your employer or your state labor department:
- The federal baseline. The Fair Labor Standards Act requires at least time and a half for covered nonexempt employees after 40 hours in a workweek. It does not require overtime for weekends, holidays, or long days as such.
- The workweek. A workweek is a fixed, recurring 168-hour period. Each week stands alone; hours cannot be averaged across two or more weeks.
- Exempt jobs. Some salaried roles are exempt from overtime. Whether a job is exempt depends on its duties and pay, not only its title.
- State and contract rules. State laws and employment agreements can be more generous than federal law, for example with daily overtime or double time.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate time and a half?
Multiply your hourly rate by 1.5. At $20 an hour, time and a half is $30 an hour. Multiply that rate by your overtime hours to get overtime pay.
How much is 10 hours of overtime at $18 an hour?
At time and a half, the overtime rate is $27.00, so 10 hours pay $270.00. Added to 40 regular hours ($720.00), the week totals $990.00 before taxes.
When does overtime start?
Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, covered nonexempt employees are owed at least time and a half for hours over 40 in a workweek. Some states, union contracts, and employers set additional rules, such as daily overtime. Enter the limit that applies to you.
What is double time?
Double time is pay at twice the regular hourly rate. Federal law does not require it, but some state laws, contracts, and employer policies do for certain hours, such as very long days or holidays. Turn on “Add double-time hours” to include it.
Is overtime based on my base rate or my regular rate?
Federal overtime is based on the “regular rate,” which can include some bonuses, commissions, and shift differentials, and is a weighted average when you work at more than one rate. This calculator uses the single hourly rate you enter, so it may differ from your paycheck if you earn other pay.
What is the effective hourly rate?
It is total gross pay divided by all hours worked. It shows what your overtime week works out to per hour on average.
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How this calculator was built. The formula, defaults, and edge cases are documented in a research record and covered by automated tests. It estimates gross amounts from your inputs; it does not determine legal entitlements, taxes, or take-home pay. Read our methodology and disclaimer.
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