UK Holiday Entitlement Calculator
Use this free tool to estimate statutory paid annual leave in the UK for regular workers and irregular-hours workers.
For many irregular-hours or part-year workers, statutory holiday accrues at 12.07% of hours worked.
How holiday entitlement works in the UK
Most workers in the UK are entitled to paid annual leave. The statutory minimum is 5.6 weeks of holiday per holiday year. If you work a regular number of days each week, your minimum entitlement is usually:
- 5 days/week: 28 days (the common full-time minimum)
- 4 days/week: 22.4 days
- 3 days/week: 16.8 days
There is a statutory cap of 28 days for this standard calculation method. Some employers offer more than the legal minimum in contracts, but they cannot offer less than the statutory floor.
When to use each calculator method
1) Regular pattern (days per week)
Use this if you typically work a fixed number of days every week. The calculator applies the 5.6-week rule and optionally pro-rates your result if you only worked part of the leave year.
2) Irregular / part-year (12.07% method)
Use this if your hours vary significantly and your holiday accrues from hours worked. The calculation estimates holiday hours as hours worked × 12.07%. It then converts hours into days using your average daily working hours.
Bank holidays: included or on top?
A common question in any holidays entitlement calculator UK search is whether bank holidays are extra. In many contracts, bank holidays are included within the 5.6 weeks. In others, they are added on top. Always check your contract wording.
If your employer includes bank holidays in your annual entitlement, this calculator can estimate your remaining bookable days after those holidays are deducted.
Examples
Example A: Part-time worker
You work 3 days per week all year. Statutory entitlement is 3 × 5.6 = 16.8 days.
Example B: Joined halfway through year
You work 5 days per week but only worked 6 months this leave year. Full-year entitlement is 28 days, pro-rated result is about 14 days.
Example C: Irregular hours
You worked 900 hours in a year. Holiday hours estimate: 900 × 12.07% = 108.63 hours. At 7.5 hours/day, that is about 14.48 days.
Rounding and practical use
Holiday calculations often produce decimals. Employers commonly round up to the nearest half day or hour for practical booking. Good practice is to avoid rounding down in a way that reduces legal minimum entitlement.
Quick checklist
- Confirm your leave year dates
- Check if bank holidays are included in your allowance
- Check your contract for enhanced leave above statutory minimum
- Use pro-rata when joining or leaving part-way through year
- Track leave taken to avoid year-end surprises
Disclaimer: This tool provides an estimate for educational purposes and is not legal advice. For complex cases (shift work, carry-over disputes, sickness, parental leave interactions), consult ACAS guidance or a qualified employment law adviser.