Most people know they earn "time and a half" on overtime, but very few can say exactly what that number is. This overtime rate calculator does one focused job: it takes your regular hourly wage and converts it into the premium rates you are actually paid for extra hours — the time-and-a-half rate (1.5× your base) and the double-time rate (2.0× your base) — then multiplies those rates by your weekly overtime hours to show the cash.
Instead of splitting a whole paycheck into regular and overtime hours like a general pay estimator, this page is built around the rate itself. Whether you are negotiating a contract, checking a timesheet, or deciding whether to pick up an extra shift, the first number you need is the per-hour premium — and that is what appears on the result card instantly as you type.
How to Use
- Enter your Regular Hourly Wage — the base rate your employer pays for standard, non-overtime hours. This is the only number the premium rates are built from.
- Type your Overtime Hours This Week — the hours you expect to be paid at time-and-a-half (the US federal default for anything beyond 40 hours in a workweek).
- Optionally add Double-Time Hours This Week — hours your employer pays at twice the base rate, such as holiday work, seventh-day work, or stretches after a long shift. Leave it at 0 if your job does not pay double time.
- Read the result card: it shows your Time-and-a-Half Rate, your Double-Time Rate, the pay from each bucket, and the Total Weekly Overtime Pay.
The engine uses the straight FLSA formula — overtime rate equals the hourly wage times 1.5, double-time rate equals the hourly wage times 2.0, and weekly overtime pay equals hours times the matching rate — so the figures you see are the same arithmetic a payroll clerk would run, not an estimate rounded up from an annual salary.
The Overtime Rate Formula
Under the US Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), a non-exempt worker who works more than 40 hours in a workweek must be paid at a rate of at least one and one-half times their regular rate of pay for those extra hours. The math is deliberately simple:
- Time-and-a-half rate = hourly wage × 1.5
- Double-time rate = hourly wage × 2.0
- Weekly overtime pay = overtime hours × overtime rate
For example, if your regular wage is $20 per hour, your time-and-a-half rate is $30 per hour and your double-time rate is $40 per hour. Working five overtime hours that week adds 5 × $30 = $150 of overtime pay on top of your regular paycheck. If two of those hours fall on a paid holiday at double time, you would instead collect 3 × $30 plus 2 × $40 = $90 + $80 = $170.
Note that the "regular rate of pay" under the FLSA is not always just your signed base wage: it can include nondiscretionary bonuses, shift differentials, and on-call pay averaged into the hourly figure. For most hourly workers, however, the contract wage is the correct starting point, which is what this calculator uses.
Time-and-a-Half vs Double Time
Time-and-a-half (1.5×) is the legal floor set by the FLSA and applies to most overtime. Double time (2.0×) is not required by federal law; it comes from state rules, union contracts, or company policy. It is most common in a few predictable situations:
- Seventh consecutive workday — California law requires double time beyond 12 hours in a day or on the eighth hour of a seventh consecutive workday.
- Holidays and Sundays — many employers voluntarily pay 2.0× on major holidays or Sunday work to attract staff.
- Long daily shifts — some contracts pay double time after 10 or 12 hours in a single day.
Because double time varies so much by location and employer, this calculator treats it as an optional input. If you are unsure whether your job pays it at all, leave the Double-Time Hours field at zero and the result reflects the standard 1.5× overtime pay only.
Examples
Example 1 — Standard weekday overtime. A warehouse associate earns $22 per hour and works 45 hours this week, meaning 5 overtime hours. The time-and-a-half rate is 22 × 1.5 = $33/hour, and the overtime pay is 5 × $33 = $165 for the week. The double-time rate of 22 × 2.0 = $44/hour is shown for reference but adds nothing because no double-time hours were entered.
Example 2 — Holiday double time. A nurse earns $36 per hour and works 8 overtime hours, of which 3 are paid at double time over a holiday. The time-and-a-half rate is $54/hour and the double-time rate is $72/hour. Overtime pay = 5 × $54 = $270; double-time pay = 3 × $72 = $216; total weekly overtime pay is $486.
Example 3 — Higher-wage professional. A tradesman earning $48 per hour picks up 10 overtime hours with no double time. His time-and-a-half rate is $72/hour, and his overtime pay for the week is 10 × $72 = $720. At this wage, a single overtime-heavy week can add nearly a third of another normal week's pay.
FAQ
What is time and a half?
Time and a half is an overtime rate equal to 1.5 times your regular hourly wage. If you earn $20 per hour, time and a half is $30 per hour. Under the FLSA, most non-exempt US workers must be paid at least this rate for hours worked beyond 40 in a single workweek.
How do I calculate my overtime rate?
Multiply your regular hourly wage by 1.5. For example, a $25 hourly wage becomes a $37.50 overtime rate. To find the weekly pay, multiply that rate by your number of overtime hours — 5 overtime hours at $37.50 equals $187.50. This calculator runs that multiplication instantly.
When does double time apply?
Double time (2.0× the base wage) is not required by federal law. It comes from state rules — for example, California mandates double time after 12 hours in a workday or on a seventh consecutive workday — from union contracts, or from employer policy for holidays and Sundays. Check your employee handbook or collective bargaining agreement.
Is overtime based on my salary or hourly rate?
Overtime pay for hourly workers is based on their hourly wage. For salaried non-exempt workers, the regular rate is derived by dividing the weekly salary by 40, then multiplying by 1.5 for overtime. Many salaried employees are classified as exempt and do not earn overtime at all, so confirm your classification first.
Who qualifies for overtime?
Under the FLSA, non-exempt workers — generally hourly employees and salaried workers earning below the salary threshold — qualify for overtime after 40 hours in a workweek. Exempt employees, typically paid professionals, executives, and outside sales staff, are not entitled to overtime. Your employer should classify you correctly in writing.
Does overtime include bonuses?
The FLSA regular-rate calculation can require averaging nondiscretionary bonuses, shift premiums, and on-call pay into your hourly rate before applying the 1.5× multiplier. Discretionary bonuses and gifts do not. If your overtime checks look higher than this calculator predicts, a bundled bonus may be the reason.
Disclaimer
This overtime rate calculator is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, payroll, or tax advice. Estimates use the standard FLSA multipliers (1.5× and 2.0×) and the inputs you enter; actual overtime eligibility and rates depend on your employment classification, state and local laws, union agreements, and how your regular rate (including bonuses and premiums) is defined by your employer. Always verify your overtime pay with your employer, payroll department, or a qualified wage-and-hour professional.