Work hours & pay
Time and a half calculator
Enter your hourly rate and overtime hours to see the time-and-a-half rate, the overtime pay, and your gross for the week.
Time and a half is 1.5 times your hourly rate. Leave the multiplier at 1.5 unless your agreement sets a different rate.
How time and a half is calculated
Time and a half pays overtime hours at one and a half times your normal hourly rate. The overtime rate is hourly rate × 1.5, the overtime pay is that rate times the overtime hours, and your gross is the regular pay plus the overtime pay. Written out: gross = regular hours × rate + overtime hours × (rate × 1.5). The multiplier is 1.5 by default, but you can change it if your contract uses a different premium.
On a $20 hourly rate, the overtime rate is $30. Work 40 regular hours and 6 overtime hours, and the regular pay is $800 while the overtime pay is $180, for a weekly gross of $980. Those six overtime hours earn $180 instead of the $120 they would at the plain rate, so the time-and-a-half premium is worth an extra $60 for the week.
| Hourly rate | Time and a half | Pay for 6 OT hours |
|---|---|---|
| $15.00 | $22.50 | $135.00 |
| $20.00 | $30.00 | $180.00 |
| $25.00 | $37.50 | $225.00 |
| $30.00 | $45.00 | $270.00 |
When you get time and a half
In the United States, the Fair Labor Standards Act requires covered, non-exempt employees to be paid at least time and a half for hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek. Overtime is based on the whole workweek, not the day, so a long single shift does not trigger federal overtime unless the weekly total passes 40. Salaried staff who meet the exemption tests, and certain roles, are not covered, which is why it pays to check your classification.
The multiplier applies to your "regular rate", which is not always just your base wage. Under the FLSA, non-discretionary bonuses and shift differentials must be folded into the regular rate before the 1.5 is applied, so real overtime can be slightly higher than base × 1.5. Some states and many union contracts are more generous, adding daily overtime or higher multipliers. Use this calculator for the standard case and adjust the multiplier to match a contract that pays more.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate time and a half?
Multiply your hourly rate by 1.5 to get the overtime rate, then multiply by the overtime hours. On $20 an hour, time and a half is $30, so six overtime hours pay $180.
When is overtime paid at time and a half?
Under US federal law, non-exempt employees get at least time and a half for hours over 40 in a workweek. Some states add daily overtime and some contracts pay a higher rate.
Is overtime based on the day or the week?
Federal overtime is based on the workweek, so only hours beyond 40 in the week qualify. A few states, such as California, also require overtime once daily hours pass a threshold.