Holiday Pay Calculation
Understand UK statutory holiday pay rules and calculate your entitlement
UK Holiday Pay Calculation Explained
Holiday pay in the UK is governed by the Working Time Regulations 1998, which entitle all workers to 5.6 weeks of paid annual leave. For full-time workers on a 5-day week, this equals 28 days including bank holidays. For part-time workers, it is calculated proportionally based on working days per week.
Holiday pay should be calculated at your "normal rate of remuneration," which since recent case law (Bear Scotland 2014, Flowers v East of England Ambulance Trust 2019) may include regular overtime, commission, and certain allowances.
Holiday Entitlement by Working Pattern
| Days/Week | Holiday Days | Holiday Weeks | Inc. 8 Bank Holidays? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 28 | 5.6 | Yes (minimum) |
| 4 | 22.4 | 5.6 | Pro-rated BH included |
| 3 | 16.8 | 5.6 | Pro-rated BH included |
| 2 | 11.2 | 5.6 | Pro-rated BH included |
| 6 | 33.6 | 5.6 | Yes |
Holiday Pay for Part-Time and Irregular Workers
Part-time workers receive the same 5.6 weeks proportionally. Workers with irregular hours use the 12.07% accrual method: for every hour worked, 12.07% accrues as holiday entitlement (5.6 ÷ 46.4 working weeks = 12.07%). Since April 2024, irregular workers can have holiday pay rolled up into each payment.
For salary calculations, use the pro rata calculator. To check how overtime affects holiday pay, see our overtime holiday pay calculator. For general questions about UK holiday rights, read how holiday pay is calculated.
Quick Summary: Holiday Pay Calculation
If you're short on time, here's what you need to know about holiday pay calculation:
- What it means: Holiday Pay Calculation involves calculating pay or entitlement proportionally based on the ratio of hours or time worked versus the full-time equivalent.
- The formula: Full-Time Amount × (Your Hours ÷ Full-Time Hours) = Your Pro Rata Amount
- Who needs it: Part-time workers, term-time staff, teachers, job-sharers, and anyone on reduced hours.
- UK law: Under the Part-time Workers Regulations 2000, part-time employees have the right to be treated no less favourably than comparable full-time workers.
Worked Example: Holiday Pay Calculation
Let's calculate holiday pay for a part-time employee. Maria works 20 hours per week (full-time is 37.5 hours) at £12.50 per hour.
Step 1 — Holiday entitlement: 5.6 weeks × (20 ÷ 37.5) = 2.987 weeks = 14.93 days
Step 2 — Daily holiday pay rate: 20 hours ÷ 5 days = 4 hours × £12.50 = £50/day
Step 3 — Total annual holiday pay: 14.93 days × £50 = £746.67
Under UK employment law, Maria is entitled to a minimum of 5.6 weeks' paid holiday, calculated pro rata based on her part-time hours. This holiday pay calculation follows the method set out in the ACAS holiday pay guidance.
Key UK Holiday Pay Rules
- Statutory minimum: All UK workers are entitled to 5.6 weeks' paid holiday (28 days for full-time, pro rata for part-time).
- Bank holidays: There's no automatic right to paid bank holidays — employers can include them in the 28-day total or add them on top.
- Irregular hours: From April 2024, the new accrual method for irregular hours workers calculates entitlement at 12.07% of hours worked in each pay period.
- Rolled-up holiday pay: Now permitted for irregular hours and part-year workers (from April 2024), allowing holiday pay to be included in each payslip.
- Carry-over: Workers must take at least 4 weeks' holiday per year. Additional entitlement (1.6 weeks) can sometimes be carried over if your contract allows.
Source: ACAS Holiday Entitlement Guide
All calculations on this page follow ACAS pro rata pay guidelines and are consistent with the UK Employment Rights Act 1996. Tax figures use HMRC 2025/26 rates. The April 2025 National Living Wage of £12.21/hour is applied where relevant.
Further Reading
For more help with holiday pay calculation, explore our free UK tools. You may also find these useful: pro rata calculator, term-time salary calculator, overtime calculator.
Last updated: February 2026. Verified against HMRC 2025/26 tax rates and April 2025 National Living Wage (£12.21/hour).
Frequently Asked Questions
UK workers are entitled to a minimum of 5.6 weeks paid holiday per year (28 days for full-time workers). This can include bank holidays. Part-time workers receive a proportional amount.
Part-time holiday = 5.6 × number of days worked per week. For example: 3 days/week × 5.6 = 16.8 days annual holiday.
The 12.07% calculation is used for casual/irregular workers. It represents 5.6 weeks ÷ 46.4 working weeks = 12.07%. This percentage is added to pay or accrued as holiday entitlement.
Employers CAN include bank holidays within the 5.6 weeks statutory entitlement. There is no automatic right to bank holidays off in addition to the 28 days, unless your contract states otherwise.