⏱️ Overtime Calculator: Work Out Your Time-and-a-Half Pay
By Shihab Mia · Reviewed by ToolNimba Review Team, Finance content reviewers · Updated 2026-07-13
This overtime calculator gives an estimate for general information only and is not professional financial, tax, or legal advice. Actual overtime rules, thresholds, and rates depend on your employer, contract, and local labor law. Check your pay policy and the applicable law before relying on any figure.
Anything over 40 counts as overtime.
To calculate overtime pay, multiply your hourly rate by your overtime multiplier (usually 1.5 for time and a half), then multiply that overtime rate by the number of overtime hours, and add it to your regular pay. For example, at $20 an hour with 40 regular hours and 5 overtime hours at 1.5x, your regular pay is $800, your overtime pay is $150 (a $30 overtime rate times 5 hours), and your total pay is $950. This calculator does that math instantly and also shows your effective average hourly rate once overtime is blended in.
What is the Overtime Calculator?
Overtime pay is the higher rate you earn for hours worked beyond a normal threshold, most commonly beyond 40 hours in a workweek. The extra you earn is set by a multiplier applied to your base rate. Time and a half means a multiplier of 1.5, so a $20 base rate becomes a $30 overtime rate. Double time means a multiplier of 2, turning that same $20 rate into $40 an hour. Some contracts and union agreements use other multipliers such as 1.25 or triple time (3x) for holidays, so this tool lets you pick the multiplier that matches your situation.
The calculation has two clean parts. Regular pay is simply your hourly rate times your regular hours, for example $20 times 40 hours equals $800. Overtime pay is your overtime rate times your overtime hours, for example $30 times 5 hours equals $150. Adding them gives total pay of $950. Because the overtime hours are paid at a premium, your effective average hourly rate rises above your base rate: $950 divided by 45 total hours is about $21.11 an hour. That average is a useful reality check on how much the overtime premium is actually adding to your take-home before deductions.
A common point of confusion is the multiplier itself. Time and a half does not mean you get paid one and a half times only for the extra half; the whole overtime hour is paid at 1.5x your normal rate. So each overtime hour at a $20 base rate pays the full $30, not $20 plus a $10 bonus counted separately. Getting this right matters, because underestimating the multiplier is one of the most frequent ways people miscalculate what they are owed.
If you only track your total hours for the week, use the 40-hour helper: enter the total and the tool treats everything over 40 as overtime. Work 45 hours and it splits that into 40 regular plus 5 overtime automatically. This mirrors the standard weekly overtime threshold used across most hourly jobs, though your own threshold may differ if you are on a daily overtime rule or a different contract, so adjust the hours manually if needed.
When to use it
- Checking that your paycheck correctly paid time and a half on the overtime hours you worked last week.
- Estimating your total earnings before payday when you know you will pick up extra shifts.
- Comparing how much more you take home at double time versus time and a half for holiday or weekend work.
- Working out the effective blended hourly rate a week of overtime actually gives you.
- Deciding whether an offered overtime shift is worth it once you see the extra pay in dollars.
- Helping a small business owner sanity-check overtime pay for an hourly employee.
How to use the Overtime Calculator
- Enter your regular hourly rate (the tool defaults to $20).
- Enter your regular hours and your overtime hours separately, or switch to the total-hours mode and enter one number for the week.
- Choose your overtime multiplier: 1.5x for time and a half, 2x for double time, or another value your contract uses.
- Read off your regular pay, overtime pay, overtime rate per hour, total pay, and effective average rate.
- Use Copy summary to save the full breakdown to your clipboard.
Formula & method
Worked examples
You earn $20 an hour, worked 40 regular hours and 5 overtime hours at time and a half (1.5x).
- Regular pay = 20 x 40 = $800.00
- Overtime rate = 20 x 1.5 = $30.00 per hour
- Overtime pay = 30 x 5 = $150.00
- Total pay = 800 + 150 = $950.00
- Effective average rate = 950 / 45 hours = $21.11 per hour
Result: Regular $800.00, overtime $150.00, total $950.00, average $21.11/hr
You earn $18 an hour and worked 48 total hours in the week, with overtime paid at double time (2x).
- Overtime hours = 48 total minus 40 = 8 hours; regular hours = 40
- Regular pay = 18 x 40 = $720.00
- Overtime rate = 18 x 2 = $36.00 per hour
- Overtime pay = 36 x 8 = $288.00
- Total pay = 720 + 288 = $1,008.00
Result: Regular $720.00, overtime $288.00, total $1,008.00, average $21.00/hr
Overtime rate per hour by base rate and multiplier
| Base rate | Time and a half (1.5x) | Double time (2x) | Triple time (3x) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15.00 | $22.50 | $30.00 | $45.00 |
| $18.00 | $27.00 | $36.00 | $54.00 |
| $20.00 | $30.00 | $40.00 | $60.00 |
| $25.00 | $37.50 | $50.00 | $75.00 |
| $30.00 | $45.00 | $60.00 | $90.00 |
Total weekly pay at $20/hr for 40 regular hours plus overtime (time and a half)
| Overtime hours | Overtime pay | Total pay | Effective average rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | $0.00 | $800.00 | $20.00 |
| 2 | $60.00 | $860.00 | $20.48 |
| 5 | $150.00 | $950.00 | $21.11 |
| 8 | $240.00 | $1,040.00 | $21.67 |
| 10 | $300.00 | $1,100.00 | $22.00 |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Paying the premium on only the half. Time and a half means the entire overtime hour is paid at 1.5x your base rate, not your base rate plus a separate half-rate bonus. At $20 an hour each overtime hour pays the full $30, so the multiplier applies to the whole hour.
- Forgetting the 40-hour threshold. Weekly overtime usually starts only after 40 hours in the workweek. If you enter total hours, everything up to 40 is regular and only the excess is overtime. Treating all hours as overtime overstates your pay.
- Using the wrong multiplier for holidays. Some employers pay double time (2x) or even triple time on holidays or Sundays while paying 1.5x on ordinary overtime. Using 1.5x when your contract says 2x undercounts what you are owed, so match the multiplier to the specific shift.
- Confusing gross pay with take-home. This calculator shows gross overtime pay before taxes, insurance, and other deductions. Overtime does not push all your income into a higher bracket, but withholding on a big check can look high; your net will be lower than the gross shown here.
Glossary
- Overtime
- Hours worked beyond the normal threshold, usually 40 hours in a workweek, that are paid at a higher premium rate.
- Time and a half
- An overtime rate of 1.5 times your regular hourly rate; the most common overtime multiplier.
- Double time
- An overtime rate of 2 times your regular hourly rate, often used for holidays or hours far beyond the standard week.
- Overtime multiplier
- The number your base rate is multiplied by to get the overtime rate, such as 1.5, 2, or 3.
- Regular rate of pay
- Your standard hourly rate for ordinary hours, before any overtime premium is applied.
- Effective average rate
- Total pay divided by total hours worked; the blended hourly rate once overtime premiums are included.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate overtime pay?
Multiply your hourly rate by the overtime multiplier to get your overtime rate, multiply that by your overtime hours, then add your regular pay. At $20 an hour with 5 overtime hours at 1.5x, the overtime rate is $30, overtime pay is $150, and added to $800 of regular pay the total is $950.
What is time and a half for $20 an hour?
Time and a half for a $20 hourly rate is $30 per hour, because you multiply $20 by 1.5. Each overtime hour is paid the full $30, so 5 overtime hours would add $150 to your pay.
How is double time different from time and a half?
Time and a half uses a 1.5x multiplier and double time uses a 2x multiplier. At $20 an hour, time and a half pays $30 per overtime hour while double time pays $40. Double time is usually reserved for holidays or hours well beyond the standard week, depending on your contract.
When does overtime start?
For most hourly jobs, overtime begins after 40 hours in a single workweek. Some contracts or states also use daily overtime rules, such as paying overtime after 8 hours in one day. Use the total-hours mode for the standard 40-hour week, or enter hours manually for a different rule.
Is overtime pay taxed at a higher rate?
Overtime is taxed the same as regular wages; there is no special overtime tax. A large paycheck can trigger higher withholding for that period, which may make it look like overtime is taxed more, but that evens out when you file. This tool shows gross pay before any deductions.
What is my effective hourly rate with overtime?
Your effective average rate is total pay divided by total hours. If you earn $950 for 45 hours, your effective rate is about $21.11 an hour, higher than your $20 base because the overtime hours carry a premium. The calculator shows this figure automatically.
Sources
- Overtime Pay , U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division
- Overtime , Investopedia