Overtime Calculator
Calculate your total gross pay based on your regular, overtime, and double-time hours.
Whether you are an hourly employee trying to verify your paycheck, a freelancer working a holiday shift, or a small business owner calculating payroll, figuring out overtime math can get complicated quickly.
Our free Overtime Calculator does the heavy lifting for you. Simply input your base hourly rate and split your hours into Regular, Overtime, and Double Time. The tool will instantly calculate your Total Gross Pay, break down exactly how much you earned in each tier, and even calculate your "Effective Hourly Rate" so you know exactly what your time was worth!
How to Use the Calculator
- Enter Your Regular Hourly Rate: Put in your standard base pay (e.g., $20.00).
- Enter Regular Hours: Put in the number of hours you worked at your normal rate (usually up to 40 hours in a standard workweek).
- Enter Overtime Hours: Input the extra hours you worked that qualify for "time and a half" (1.5x your normal rate).
- Enter Double Time Hours (Optional): If you worked a major holiday or exceeded state limits that trigger double pay (2.0x your normal rate), enter those hours here.
- Hit Calculate: Instantly view your paycheck breakdown!
How to Calculate Overtime Pay
Understanding the math behind your paycheck is crucial. Here are the standard payroll formulas used by accounting departments across the country:
- Regular Pay: Hourly Rate × Regular Hours
- Overtime Pay (Time and a Half): Hourly Rate × 1.5 × Overtime Hours
- Double Time Pay: Hourly Rate × 2.0 × Double Time Hours
- Total Gross Pay: Regular Pay + Overtime Pay + Double Time Pay
Example
Let's say your base pay is $20.00 per hour. During a busy week, you work 45 hours total. Under standard federal law, the first 40 hours are regular pay, and the extra 5 hours are overtime.
- Regular Pay: $20.00 × 40 hours = $800.00
- Overtime Rate: $20.00 × 1.5 = $30.00 per hour
- Overtime Pay: $30.00 × 5 hours = $150.00
- Total Gross Pay: $800.00 + $150.00 = $950.00
Hourly Rate to Overtime Conversion
Use this cheat sheet to quickly see what your Overtime (1.5x) and Double Time (2x) rates are based on common starting wages.
| Regular Hourly Rate | Overtime Rate (1.5x) | Double Time Rate (2.0x) |
| $10.00 / hr | $15.00 / hr | $20.00 / hr |
| $15.00 / hr | $22.50 / hr | $30.00 / hr |
| $20.00 / hr | $30.00 / hr | $40.00 / hr |
| $25.00 / hr | $37.50 / hr | $50.00 / hr |
| $30.00 / hr | $45.00 / hr | $60.00 / hr |
| $40.00 / hr | $60.00 / hr | $80.00 / hr |
| $50.00 / hr | $75.00 / hr | $100.00 / hr |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is "Time and a Half"?
"Time and a half" is the standard overtime rate mandated by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) in the United States. It means that for every hour of overtime you work, you are paid your normal hourly rate plus an extra 50% of that rate (1.5x).
When does overtime kick in?
Under federal FLSA rules, non-exempt employees must be paid overtime for any hours worked over 40 hours in a single workweek. Some states, like California, have stricter laws that require overtime pay if you work more than 8 hours in a single day.
Is Double Time mandatory?
Federal law does not require employers to pay double time. However, some state laws and union contracts do require it. For example, in California, any hours worked over 12 hours in a single workday must be paid at double the regular rate. Employers may also offer double time as a perk for working on major holidays.
What does "Gross Pay" mean?
Gross Pay is the total amount of money you earned before taxes, health insurance, retirement contributions, and other deductions are taken out of your check. Your "Net Pay" (the money that actually hits your bank account) will always be lower than your Gross Pay.