Holiday Entitlement Calculator (UK)
Work out your statutory paid holiday in the UK. Almost all workers are entitled to 5.6 weeks of paid annual leave — that's 28 days for a 5-day week (employers can include bank holidays in this). This calculator pro-rates leave for part-time hours, mid-year starters, and irregular-hours workers. An estimate — check GOV.UK or your contract for your exact right.
Calculate your holiday entitlement
Estimate only — see official link below.
How to Use This Holiday Entitlement Calculator
- Choose your working pattern — fixed days per week, or irregular/casual hours.
- Enter your days per week (e.g. 3 for part-time) and your job's full-time allowance (statutory minimum is 28 days).
- Set the portion of the year you'll work if you started or are leaving partway through the leave year.
- The calculator shows your entitlement in days and weeks, and flags if it falls below the legal minimum.
How UK Holiday Entitlement Is Calculated
Statutory paid holiday in the UK is 5.6 weeks per year, regardless of how many days you work. The formula is:
days per week × 5.6 = annual leave (capped at 28 days for statutory purposes)
- 5 days/week → 28 days (5 × 5.6, capped at 28).
- 4 days/week → 22.4 days (4 × 5.6).
- 3 days/week → 16.8 days (3 × 5.6).
- 2 days/week → 11.2 days.
The 28-day cap is a statutory ceiling — a 6-day-a-week worker is still only guaranteed 28 days by law, though many employers give more. Employers can count the 8 UK bank holidays within the 5.6 weeks.
Part-Time, Starters and Irregular Hours
- Part-time: entitlement is pro-rated by days worked — a 3-day worker gets 3/5 of the full-time allowance.
- Started partway through the year: leave accrues monthly — roughly one-twelfth of the annual entitlement for each month you'll work.
- Irregular / casual hours: holiday accrues at 12.07% of hours worked (5.6 weeks ÷ 46.4 working weeks). New rules from 2024 confirmed this accrual method for irregular-hours and part-year workers.
Worked Example
You work 4 days a week, your employer offers the statutory 28 days full-time, and you started 6 months into the leave year:
- Full-time-equivalent for 4 days: 28 × (4 ÷ 5) = 22.4 days.
- Pro-rated for 6 months: 22.4 × 0.5 = 11.2 days for the remainder of the year.
Common Mistakes
- Assuming everyone gets 28 days. 28 days is the full-time (5-day) figure — part-timers get pro-rata.
- Forgetting bank holidays. Employers can include the 8 bank holidays inside your 5.6 weeks — check your contract.
- Thinking casual workers get nothing. Irregular-hours workers still accrue holiday (12.07% of hours).
- Ignoring carry-over rules. Some unused statutory leave can be carried over in specific circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days holiday do I get per year in the UK?
At least 5.6 weeks of paid holiday. For a 5-day week that's 28 days; for a 4-day week, 22.4 days; for a 3-day week, 16.8 days. Employers may include bank holidays in this.
Does the 28 days include bank holidays?
It can. The 5.6-week statutory minimum (28 days for full-time) is the legal floor, and employers are allowed to count the 8 UK bank holidays within it. Your contract states whether they're included or on top.
How is part-time holiday calculated?
Pro-rata by days worked: multiply your days per week by 5.6, or take the full-time allowance × (your days ÷ full-time days). A 3-day worker gets 16.8 days.
What is the 12.07% holiday rule?
For irregular-hours and casual workers, paid holiday accrues at 12.07% of the hours worked. It comes from 5.6 weeks of leave divided by the 46.4 working weeks in a year.
Do I accrue holiday from my first day?
Yes. Statutory holiday builds up from day one of employment, including during your probation period.