Holiday Entitlement Calculator

What This Site Does

Holiday Entitlement Calculator is a free tool for UK workers to accurately calculate their statutory paid holiday entitlement based on their working pattern.

Who It's For

This calculator is designed for all UK workers including full-time employees, part-time workers, agency staff, and those on irregular hours or zero-hours contracts. Whether you're starting a new job or checking your current entitlement, this tool provides instant, accurate calculations.

How It Works

• Enter how many days per week you work
• Tell us if bank holidays are included in your entitlement
• Get instant calculation of your statutory holiday days (based on 5.6 weeks per year)
• Calculate pro-rata entitlement if you're a new starter
• Track your holidays throughout the year with the built-in holiday tracker

All calculations follow UK employment law. Data is stored only in your browser and never transmitted.

UK Statutory Holiday Entitlement Explained

In the UK, almost all workers are entitled to 5.6 weeks of paid holiday per year. This is the legal minimum and applies whether you work full-time, part-time, or irregular hours.

How It's Calculated

The calculation is simple:

Bank Holidays

There are 8 bank holidays in England and Wales each year. Your employer can choose whether to:

• Include them: Your 28 days (if full-time) includes the 8 bank holidays, leaving 20 days you can choose
• Exclude them: You get the 8 bank holidays off, plus your 28 days to choose
• Ask you to work them: You can be required to work bank holidays, but they count towards your total entitlement

Check your contract or ask your employer which applies to you.

Who Gets Holiday Entitlement?

You're entitled to paid holiday if you're:

• A full-time employee
• A part-time employee
• An agency worker
• A worker with irregular hours (including zero-hours contracts)

When Do You Start Getting Holiday?

You start building up (accruing) holiday as soon as you start working. You earn holiday at a rate of 12.07% of the hours you work.

For a full year's work, this adds up to 5.6 weeks.

Holiday Pay

When you take holiday, you should be paid:

• Fixed hours: Your normal wage for the time you would have worked
• Variable hours: Average of the last 52 weeks of pay (or shorter if you've worked less time)

Can I Carry Over Holiday?

Usually, you must take your holiday within the holiday year (check your contract for when this runs). However:

• Your employer may allow you to carry over unused holiday
• If you were unable to take holiday due to sick leave, you can usually carry it over
• During maternity/paternity leave, holiday continues to accrue and can be carried over

What If I Leave My Job?

If you leave your job or are made redundant, you're entitled to payment for any holiday you've accrued but not taken.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my employer refuse my holiday request?

Yes, your employer can refuse a holiday request, but they must give you notice. They must give you at least as much notice as the holiday you asked for (e.g., 2 weeks' notice for 2 weeks' holiday).

Can I be paid instead of taking holiday?

No, except when you leave your job. Your employer must let you take your minimum 5.6 weeks of holiday. You cannot give up this right, even if you want to.

What about sick leave?

If you're off sick, you can't usually take holiday at the same time. Your holiday continues to build up while you're off sick.

Do I get extra holiday for working shifts or nights?

Not automatically. The statutory minimum is 5.6 weeks regardless of when you work. However, your employer may offer more generous terms in your contract.