Part-Time Holiday Entitlement Calculator (UK)
Estimate annual leave and remaining holiday for part-time workers using days, hours, or irregular-hours accrual.
How this part-time holiday calculator works
This calculator gives a quick estimate of annual leave entitlement for part-time employees in the UK. It supports three common approaches: based on days worked each week, based on hours worked each week, and accrual for irregular-hours contracts.
If your employer uses a custom policy (for example, enhanced leave or separate treatment of bank holidays), use this calculator as a guide and compare the result with your contract and staff handbook.
Holiday entitlement formulas
1) Fixed days per week
If someone works the same number of days each week, a common formula is:
Annual leave (days) = days worked per week × 5.6
Example: working 3 days per week gives 16.8 days of annual leave.
2) Fixed hours per week
Where work is tracked in hours, the equivalent formula is:
Annual leave (hours) = hours worked per week × 5.6
Example: 24 hours per week gives 134.4 hours of annual leave.
3) Irregular-hours accrual
For irregular or casual patterns, entitlement is often accrued as a percentage of hours worked:
Holiday accrued (hours) = total hours worked × 12.07%
This method is commonly used in payroll systems, especially where weekly patterns vary.
What to include in your calculation
- Working pattern: fixed days, fixed hours, or irregular hours.
- Statutory or enhanced leave: some employers offer more than 5.6 weeks.
- Leave already taken: needed to work out remaining entitlement.
- Bank holiday policy: included in entitlement or given on top, depending on contract.
Examples
Example A: 2.5 days per week
2.5 × 5.6 = 14 days annual leave. If 4 days are already used, remaining balance is 10 days.
Example B: 30 hours per week
30 × 5.6 = 168 hours annual leave. If 56 hours are already used, remaining balance is 112 hours.
Example C: Irregular worker with 700 hours worked
700 × 12.07% = 84.49 hours accrued leave. If 20 hours are already taken, remaining balance is 64.49 hours.
Bank holidays, starters, and leavers
Entitlement is often pro-rated if someone joins or leaves partway through the holiday year. A basic pro-rata approach is:
Full annual entitlement × (months employed ÷ 12)
Bank holidays can reduce remaining balance if they are included in the total leave pot. Always verify whether bank holidays are:
- included in total annual leave, or
- granted in addition to annual leave.
Frequently asked questions
Do part-time employees get less holiday?
They receive less in absolute days/hours than full-time staff, but entitlement is pro-rated fairly based on the same underlying weeks of leave.
Can entitlement be shown in days or hours?
Yes. Many employers use days for fixed schedules and hours for variable schedules.
Is this legal advice?
No. This is an informational tool. For contractual or legal certainty, check official guidance, your HR policy, or professional advice.