🇬🇧 Work Hours Calculator UK

Calculate your work hours with UK Working Time Regulations and employment law information.

🗣 English£ GBP (British Pound)

Calculate Work Hours

Results

7.5 hrs
Net Work Hours
Total Duration8h 0m
Break30 min
Net Hours7h 30m

🇬🇧 UK Employment Laws

🗣 LanguageEnglish
£ CurrencyGBP (British Pound)

📅 Last verified: May 26, 2026. Labour rules and wage rates can change, so confirm with official sources before payroll cutoff.

⏰ Standard Working Hours

The UK has no statutory maximum daily hours, but the Working Time Regulations limit the average work week to 48 hours, normally averaged over 17 weeks. Workers aged 18+ can agree to opt out in writing.

⚡ Overtime Rules

There is no statutory overtime pay premium in UK law. Overtime rates are usually set by employment contracts or collective agreements.

Employers must still ensure total pay does not fall below the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage for all hours worked.

💷 Minimum Wage (effective 1 April 2026)

  • National Living Wage (21+): £12.71/hr
  • 18 to 20: £10.85/hr
  • Under 18: £8.00/hr
  • Apprentice: £8.00/hr

🏖️ Holiday Entitlement

Full-time workers are entitled to 5.6 weeks (28 days) paid holiday per year, including bank holidays. Part-time workers receive a pro-rata entitlement.

😴 Rest Breaks

  • 20-minute break for shifts over 6 hours
  • 11 consecutive hours rest between working days
  • 24 hours uninterrupted rest per week (or 48 hours per fortnight)

🌙 Night Work

Night workers (11pm-6am) should not work more than an average of 8 hours per 24-hour period. Employers must offer free health assessments to night workers.

Practical UK Work Examples

🧮 UK standard shift example

Input: 09:00 to 17:45, 45-minute break.

Result: 8.00 paid hours.

Pay sample: £112.00 at £14.00/hour.

🧮 UK overtime shift example

Input: 08:00 to 19:00, 60-minute break.

Result: 10.00 paid hours with 2.00 overtime hours (using a 8-hour daily threshold for illustration).

Pay sample: regular £112.00 + overtime £42.00 = £154.00.

Local rule note: There is no statutory overtime pay premium in UK law

Local Use Cases

📌 Use Case 1

NHS and care rotas with night-shift averages.

📌 Use Case 2

Retail overtime around bank holidays.

📌 Use Case 3

Agency worker timesheets across multiple sites.

Official Sources

🔗 GOV.UK: Maximum weekly working hours

Last verified: May 26, 2026

https://www.gov.uk/maximum-weekly-working-hours

🔗 GOV.UK: National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates

Last verified: May 26, 2026

https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates

🔗 Acas: Rest and breaks at work

Last verified: May 26, 2026

https://www.acas.org.uk/rest-breaks

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to common questions

What are the UK standard working hours?
There is no single statutory standard week, but many contracts use 35 to 40 hours. Under Working Time Regulations, the average weekly limit is 48 hours (normally across 17 weeks) unless a worker opts out.
Can I be forced to work more than 48 hours?
You cannot be forced to sign an opt-out. Without an opt-out, your average working time must stay within the 48-hour weekly limit over the reference period.
What is the UK minimum wage?
From 1 April 2026, the National Living Wage for workers aged 21+ is £12.71 per hour. Lower statutory rates apply for 18-20, under-18, and eligible apprentices.
Am I entitled to breaks at work in the UK?
Yes. If you work more than 6 hours, you are entitled to at least a 20-minute uninterrupted rest break. You are also entitled to 11 hours rest between working days.
How are bank holidays handled in UK working hours?
Bank holidays are included in the 28-day statutory holiday entitlement. Your employer can require you to work on bank holidays, depending on your contract.
Can this UK calculator handle overnight shifts?
Yes. If end time is earlier than start time, the calculator assumes the shift crosses midnight and still applies break deductions and pay logic correctly.
Should I use daily or weekly overtime limits in UK?
Use your contract, award/collective agreement, and local law. UK rules can differ by sector, and many employers use weekly thresholds even when daily examples are shown.
Where should I verify updates for UK minimum wage and working-time rules?
Check the official sources listed on this page, then confirm any sector-specific agreements before payroll cutoff.
How should I use the UK minimum wage figure in payroll checks?
Treat published minimum rates as a floor, then compare with your local sector rules and contract terms. Current page reference: National Living Wage (21+): £12.71/hr 18 to 20: £10.85/hr Under 18: £8.00/hr Apprentice: £8.00/hr.
What weekly hour target should I benchmark in UK?
A practical benchmark from this page is around 48 hours per week, then adjust for contract schedules, rest rules, and local exceptions.