annual leave ireland calculator

How annual leave works in Ireland

In Ireland, most employees have a statutory right to paid annual leave under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. Your exact entitlement depends on hours worked and work pattern. The law uses three different methods and applies whichever gives the highest result, subject to a maximum of 4 working weeks in a leave year.

This page helps you estimate your entitlement quickly, whether you work full-time, part-time, variable shifts, or seasonal hours.

The 3 statutory calculation methods

1) Four working weeks (if 1,365+ hours worked)

If you work at least 1,365 hours in the leave year, you may be entitled to 4 working weeks of paid annual leave (unless changing employment in certain cases).

2) One-third of a working week per qualifying month

You can also calculate annual leave as one-third of a working week for each month where you worked at least 117 hours. Across 12 months, this can add up to 4 weeks.

3) 8% of hours worked (capped at 4 weeks)

The third method gives leave equivalent to 8% of hours worked in the leave year, with a legal cap of 4 working weeks.

What this calculator shows

• Your entitlement under all three methods
• The highest statutory result
• Estimated leave in weeks, days, and hours
• A simple breakdown you can compare with payroll records

Example: full-time employee

If someone works 5 days per week, 8 hours per day, and 1,820 hours in a year:

• Method 1: 4 weeks
• Method 2 (12 qualifying months): 4 weeks
• Method 3 (8% rule): 145.6 leave hours = 3.64 weeks (using 40-hour work week)

The statutory result is 4 working weeks.

Example: part-time employee

If a part-time worker does 3 days/week at 6 hours/day and works 900 hours in the year:

• Method 1: may not apply (under 1,365 hours)
• Method 2: depends on qualifying months with 117+ hours
• Method 3: 8% of 900 = 72 leave hours

At 18 hours/week, 72 hours equals 4 weeks, which would meet the legal cap.

Important notes

• Public holiday rights are separate from annual leave calculations.
• Employment contracts may provide leave above the statutory minimum.
• If records are unclear, ask HR/payroll for monthly hour totals.
• For disputes, guidance from the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) may help.

Frequently asked questions

Does part-time work reduce my right to leave?

Part-time workers are still entitled to annual leave. The amount is pro-rated based on hours and work pattern.

Can I carry annual leave into next year?

In many cases leave should be taken within the leave year, but carry-over rules can apply depending on company policy and legal context.

Is this calculator legal advice?

No. It is an estimate tool for planning and checking. For official or complex situations, speak to HR, a qualified advisor, or consult WRC information.