Holiday Calculator UK
Calculate your annual leave entitlement quickly and accurately with our free UK holiday calculator
Calculate Your Holiday Entitlement
Your Holiday Entitlement Results
How UK Holiday Entitlement Works
Statutory Minimum Rights
In the UK, most workers are legally entitled to a minimum of 5.6 weeks’ paid annual leave per year. This applies to full-time, part-time, and workers on irregular hours contracts.
Calculating Your Entitlement
- Full-time workers (5 days/week): 28 days (5.6 weeks × 5 days)
- Part-time workers: Pro-rata calculation based on working days
- Irregular hours: 12.07% of hours worked in previous year
Bank Holidays
Employers can choose whether bank holidays count towards your annual leave allowance or are additional to it. There are typically 8 bank holidays in England and Wales.
Building Up Holiday
During your first year of employment, you build up holiday at a rate of 2.33 days per month (for full-time workers). After your first year, you’re entitled to your full annual allowance from the start of each holiday year.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you work irregular hours, your holiday entitlement is calculated as 12.07% of the hours you worked in the previous 52 weeks. This ensures you receive the equivalent of 5.6 weeks’ holiday regardless of your working pattern.
No, your employer cannot give you less than the statutory minimum of 5.6 weeks (28 days for full-time workers). However, they can offer more generous holiday allowances if they choose.
You must take at least 4 weeks of your statutory entitlement each year – this cannot be carried over or paid in lieu except when leaving employment. The remaining 1.6 weeks can be subject to your employer’s policy on carry-over.
Your holiday year usually starts on the date you began employment or on a date set by your employer (often 1st January or 1st April). Check your contract or ask HR to confirm your holiday year dates.
Yes, all statutory holiday entitlement must be paid at your normal rate of pay. For workers with variable pay, this is calculated as an average over the previous 52 weeks of work.
References
- HM Government. (2023). Holiday entitlement: Your rights. Gov.UK. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/holiday-entitlement-rights
- HM Government. (2023). Calculate your holiday entitlement. Gov.UK. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/calculate-your-holiday-entitlement
- Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service. (2023). Holidays and holiday pay. ACAS. Available at: https://www.acas.org.uk/holidays-and-holiday-pay
- Working Time Regulations 1998. (1998). Statutory Instrument 1998 No. 1833. UK Legislation. Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/1833/contents
- Employment Rights Act 1996. (1996). Chapter 18. UK Legislation. Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/18/contents