Your right to paid holiday
Almost every worker in the UK is entitled to 5.6 weeks of paid holiday a year. For someone working 5 days a week, that's 28 days, which can include bank holidays. The legal maximum is 28 days, even if you work 6 days a week. Part-time workers get the same 5.6 weeks, worked out on the days they actually work: 3 days a week gives 16.8 days.
Holiday pay should be what you'd normally earn, so you're not worse off for taking time off. How that's worked out depends on how you're paid.
Regular pay
If you get the same pay every week or month, a week's holiday pay is simply a normal week's pay. Divide it by the days you work each week to get a day's pay.
a day's holiday pay = weekly pay ÷ days worked per week
Example: £600 a week over 5 days is £120 a day, so a week off pays £600.
Pay that varies
If your pay changes from week to week, because of overtime, shifts, commission or different hours, a week's holiday pay is your average weekly pay over the last 52 weeks you were paid. Weeks where you earned nothing are skipped, and you can look back up to 104 weeks to find 52 paid weeks. If you haven't worked 52 weeks yet, use the weeks you have.
a week's holiday pay = total pay in the paid weeks ÷ number of paid weeks
Example: you earned £26,000 over the last 52 paid weeks. That's £500 a week. If you work 4 days a week, a day's holiday pay is £125.
Since 2024, the law says the first 4 weeks of holiday must be paid at your "normal remuneration". That includes regular overtime, commission, shift premiums and other payments linked to the job, not just basic pay.
Irregular hours and rolled-up holiday pay (12.07%)
For leave years starting on or after 1 April 2024, employers can choose to pay irregular-hours workers (such as zero-hours or casual staff) and part-year workers their holiday pay on every payslip instead of when they take the time off. This is called rolled-up holiday pay and it's worked out at 12.07% of pay.
Why 12.07%? 5.6 weeks of holiday out of 52 leaves 46.4 working weeks, and 5.6 ÷ 46.4 = 12.07%. The same percentage is used to build up holiday hours: you earn 12.07% of the hours you work as paid holiday.
Example: you earn £400 in a week for 32 hours. Rolled-up holiday pay is £48.28, and you build up 3.86 hours of holiday.
Tips
- Check your entitlement in days: the holiday entitlement calculator works out how many days or hours you're owed, including if you start or leave part-way through the year.
- Leaving a job? You must be paid for any holiday you've built up but not taken.
- Paid hourly? The hourly rate calculator converts hourly pay to a weekly or annual figure, and the minimum wage calculator checks you're paid at least the legal minimum, including on holiday.
- Not paid correctly? Raise it with your employer first, then contact Acas for free advice. You can claim unpaid holiday pay at an employment tribunal.
Frequently asked questions
How is holiday pay calculated in the UK?
For a regular wage it's your normal pay for each day off. If your pay varies, a week's holiday pay is your average weekly pay over the last 52 weeks you were paid. Irregular-hours workers can be paid 12.07% on top of each payslip instead.
Does holiday pay include overtime?
Yes, for at least the first 4 weeks of your 5.6 weeks' leave. Regular overtime, commission and shift allowances must be included, not just basic pay.
What is rolled-up holiday pay?
It's holiday pay added to each payslip at 12.07% of your pay, instead of being paid when you take time off. It's allowed for irregular-hours and part-year workers for leave years starting on or after 1 April 2024.
Why is holiday pay 12.07%?
Workers get 5.6 weeks of holiday, leaving 46.4 working weeks in a year. 5.6 divided by 46.4 is 12.07%.
How much holiday am I entitled to?
5.6 weeks a year, which is 28 days for a 5-day week, capped at 28 days. Part-time workers get 5.6 times the days they work each week.
Last reviewed October 2026 using 2026/27 figures. This calculator gives an estimate for guidance only.