UK Holiday Entitlement Calculator
Estimate your annual leave entitlement and remaining days based on your working pattern and employment dates.
How to use this UK holiday calculator
This holiday calculator UK tool is designed to give you a quick estimate of annual leave entitlement under common UK working arrangements. Enter your leave year dates, your employment dates, and how many days you work each week. The calculator then works out your full-year allowance and a pro-rata amount if you started or finished partway through the leave year.
It is especially useful for part-time workers, new starters, employees on fixed-term contracts, and managers checking holiday records. You can also deduct bank holidays and leave already taken to estimate your remaining balance in both days and hours.
UK holiday entitlement basics
Statutory minimum leave
In the UK, most workers are entitled to at least 5.6 weeks of paid holiday each year under the Working Time Regulations. For someone working 5 days per week, that equals 28 days. For part-time workers, the entitlement is still 5.6 weeks, but converted according to days worked.
- 5 days/week: 28 days annual leave
- 4 days/week: 22.4 days annual leave
- 3 days/week: 16.8 days annual leave
- 2 days/week: 11.2 days annual leave
Can bank holidays be included?
Yes. Employers can include bank holidays within the statutory 5.6 weeks, as long as total paid leave is not below the legal minimum. Some employers offer bank holidays on top of statutory leave as an enhanced benefit.
How this calculator works
The calculator follows a straightforward process:
- Calculate full-year entitlement: working days per week × entitlement weeks.
- Work out what fraction of the leave year you were employed.
- Apply pro-rata calculation for part-year employment.
- Subtract bank holidays and leave already taken.
- Convert remaining days into hours using your hours-per-day input.
Because organisations may apply specific rounding rules or contractual enhancements, treat this as an estimate unless your contract or HR policy states otherwise.
Pro-rata leave for part-time and mid-year starters
Pro-rata leave means your holiday entitlement matches the amount of the leave year you actually work. If you join halfway through a leave year, you usually receive about half your annual entitlement.
Example: If your full entitlement is 28 days and you work exactly 50% of the leave year, your pro-rata allowance would be around 14 days (before deductions).
Why pro-rata matters
- Ensures fairness between employees who start at different times.
- Helps avoid overbooking leave early in employment.
- Supports payroll and final salary calculations when leaving.
Important points for employees and employers
For employees
- Check your employment contract for enhanced holiday terms.
- Confirm whether bank holidays are separate or included.
- Track leave taken monthly to avoid year-end surprises.
- Ask HR how fractional days are rounded in your business.
For employers and managers
- Keep a clear leave year policy (calendar year or custom dates).
- Apply pro-rata calculations consistently for all starters/leavers.
- Record leave in days or hours depending on shift patterns.
- Provide clear guidance on carry-over and approval processes.
Frequently asked questions
Does this calculator include carry-over leave?
Not directly. It calculates entitlement for the selected leave year. If carry-over applies, add it manually to your remaining balance.
What if I work irregular hours?
Irregular-hours workers are often better calculated in hours rather than days. You can still estimate using average days/week and hours/day, but payroll or HR should confirm the official figure.
Can I rely on this for legal disputes?
No. This is an educational and planning tool. For legal certainty, refer to official UK government guidance or seek professional HR/legal advice.
Final thoughts
A good holiday calculator UK tool helps you plan time off confidently and avoid misunderstandings about entitlement. Whether you are full-time, part-time, or joining mid-year, accurate leave calculations support better wellbeing, better staffing, and smoother payroll operations. Use the calculator above as a practical starting point, then confirm final figures against your contract and company policy.