This calculator works out statutory paid holiday for a worker with fixed days: 5.6 weeks a year, which is the number of days worked each week multiplied by 5.6, capped at 28 days. A full-time worker on 5 days a week gets 28 days, a 3-day worker gets 16.8 days, and someone joining or leaving part way through the leave year gets a share in proportion to the months they work. Employers can give more than the statutory minimum, and bank holidays can count towards it.
Quick answers
- Statutory minimum: most workers are entitled to 5.6 weeks’ paid holiday a year under the Working Time Regulations 1998.
- Full time: a worker on 5 days a week gets 28 days (5 × 5.6).
- Part time: a worker on 3 days a week gets 16.8 days (3 × 5.6).
- 28-day cap: statutory paid holiday is limited to 28 days, so a 6-day worker still gets 28 days, not 33.6.
- Bank holidays: employers do not have to give them as paid leave on top, and can count them as part of the 5.6 weeks.
- Rounding: employers cannot round part days down; in the first year they must round up to the nearest half day, according to Acas.
How the calculator works
You enter the days worked each week and, for joiners and leavers, the months worked in the leave year.
- Full-year entitlement. Days per week × 5.6, capped at 28 days.
- Pro rata. If months worked is less than 12, the full-year figure is multiplied by months worked and divided by 12.
- Result. Shown to one decimal place, for example 16.8 days.
The calculator uses a simple months pro rata. Accrual in a worker’s first year can follow different rules, so check the contract. If hours vary from week to week, use the holiday pay calculator and the 12.07% method instead.
Worked example
A part-time administrator works 3 days a week and joins halfway through the leave year.
| Step | Working | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Full-year entitlement | 3 days × 5.6 | 16.8 days |
| Months worked in the leave year | Joins at the start of month 7 | 6 months |
| Pro rata for this leave year | 16.8 × 6 ÷ 12 | 8.4 days |
| Rounded up to the nearest half day | Acas first-year rule | 8.5 days |
For comparison, a worker on 6 days a week gets 6 × 5.6 = 33.6 days, which the cap reduces to 28 days. A worker on 2.5 days a week gets 14 days.
Mistakes employers make with holiday entitlement
Most errors come from the 28-day cap and from bank holidays.
- Adding bank holidays on top for part-timers but not full-timers. If the 28 days include the 8 bank holidays in England and Wales, part-time staff should get a pro rata share of bank holidays too, not just the days they happen to work.
- Rounding down. A part-time worker with 16.8 days cannot be given 16. Round up, or give the part day as hours.
- Applying the cap to hours, not days. The cap is 28 days for workers on 5 or more days. Staff on long shifts may be better tracked in hours, at 5.6 times their weekly hours.
- Using this method for irregular hours. Workers whose hours vary use 12.07% accrual for leave years starting on or after 1 April 2024.
- Forgetting leavers. A worker who leaves is paid for holiday they have built up but not taken.
Contractual holiday above 5.6 weeks is set by the contract, not the law. Our guide to holiday entitlement for full and part-time staff covers carry-over and leavers in more detail, and taking on your first employee explains what goes in the contract.
Sources
- Holiday entitlement (GOV.UK)
- Checking holiday entitlement (Acas)
- Working Time Regulations 1998, regulation 13 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Holiday pay and entitlement reforms from 1 January 2024 (Department for Business and Trade)
Frequently asked questions
How many days holiday is a full-time worker entitled to?
28 days a year for someone working 5 days a week, which is 5.6 weeks. This can include bank holidays.
How do I work out holiday for a part-time worker?
Multiply the days they work each week by 5.6. A 3-day worker gets 16.8 days and a 4-day worker gets 22.4 days.
Can I include bank holidays in statutory holiday?
Yes. Employers can count bank holidays as part of the 5.6 weeks, and do not have to give them as paid leave on top.
What if someone starts halfway through the leave year?
They get a proportion of the full entitlement. A 5-day worker who works 6 of the 12 months gets 14 days.
Does a 6-day worker get more than 28 days?
Not under the statutory minimum. Statutory paid holiday is capped at 28 days, although an employer can choose to give more.