Time and a Half Calculator
Figures show gross pay before taxes and deductions. Overtime rules vary by country, state, and employer. Check your local labor laws for what rates apply to you.
Time and a half means 1.5 times your regular hourly rate. If you earn $20 an hour, time and a half is $30 an hour. It is the standard overtime rate in the US for hours worked past 40 in a week. Enter your wage in the calculator above to see your rate, or use the chart below to look up common wages instantly.
What is time and a half?
Time and a half is an overtime rate equal to 1.5 times your normal hourly pay. For every overtime hour you work, you earn your regular rate plus half of it again. If your standard rate is $18 an hour, time and a half is $27, because $18 plus half of $18 ($9) equals $27.
It is the most common overtime rate in the US. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, most hourly workers earn time and a half for hours past 40 in a workweek. The rate exists to compensate you fairly for the extra time you give beyond a normal full-time schedule.
How do you calculate time and a half?
Multiply your hourly rate by 1.5. That gives your time and a half rate. Then multiply by your overtime hours to get your overtime pay.
Example: you earn $20 an hour and work 5 overtime hours. Your time and a half rate is $20 × 1.5, which is $30. Five hours at $30 is $150 in overtime pay. Add that to your regular pay for the total.
There is a second way to reach the same number. Take your normal rate, then add half of it. Half of $20 is $10, and $20 plus $10 is $30. Both methods give the same result, so use whichever is easier to picture in your head.
Time and a half chart for common wages
This chart shows time and a half for common hourly rates. It also shows half of each wage, which is the amount added on top of your normal rate for each overtime hour.
| Hourly wage | Half of wage | Time and a half (1.5×) |
|---|---|---|
| $15 | $7.50 | $22.50 |
| $16 | $8.00 | $24.00 |
| $17 | $8.50 | $25.50 |
| $18 | $9.00 | $27.00 |
| $19 | $9.50 | $28.50 |
| $20 | $10.00 | $30.00 |
| $21 | $10.50 | $31.50 |
| $22 | $11.00 | $33.00 |
| $23 | $11.50 | $34.50 |
| $24 | $12.00 | $36.00 |
| $25 | $12.50 | $37.50 |
| $28 | $14.00 | $42.00 |
| $30 | $15.00 | $45.00 |
What does time and a half mean?
It means you get paid one and a half times your usual rate. The “half” is the extra bit added on top. Your normal hour is worth 1 times your rate, and an overtime hour is worth 1.5 times. The half is the reward for working beyond your standard hours.
The phrase confuses some people because it sounds like it could mean 50% of your pay. It does not. You always get your full normal rate plus an extra half on each overtime hour, so time and a half is always more than your regular pay, never less.
How does time and a half work?
Your employer tracks the hours you work in a week. Hours up to the overtime threshold, usually 40, are paid at your normal rate. Hours above that are paid at time and a half. So if you work 45 hours, the first 40 are regular pay and the last 5 are paid at 1.5 times your rate.
Some jobs also pay time and a half for weekends or holidays, even if you have not passed 40 hours. That depends on your contract or company policy, not federal law.
Worked example: a full week with overtime
Say you earn $22 an hour and work 48 hours in a week. The first 40 hours are regular pay: 40 × $22, which is $880. The remaining 8 hours are overtime at time and a half. Your overtime rate is $22 × 1.5, which is $33. Eight hours at $33 is $264. Your total gross pay for the week is $880 plus $264, which is $1,144.
Notice that those 8 overtime hours earned you $264, while 8 regular hours would have earned $176. The extra $88 is the “half” part working in your favor across all 8 hours.
Is overtime always time and a half?
Time and a half is the standard, but not the only rate. Some employers pay double time for holidays or for hours worked well beyond the normal overtime limit. A few pay triple time in rare cases. The calculator above lets you add double and triple time hours if your job uses them. For a full overtime breakdown across all rates, use the overtime calculator.
Do you get time and a half on holidays?
Federal law does not require holiday pay at all. There is no rule that says you must be paid extra for working on a holiday. Many employers choose to pay time and a half or double time on holidays as a benefit, but that comes from company policy or a union contract, not the Fair Labor Standards Act. Check your employee handbook to see what your workplace offers.
Do you get time and a half for weekends?
Not automatically. Weekend work only earns time and a half if it pushes you past 40 hours in the week, or if your employer has a policy that pays extra for Saturdays and Sundays. Working a weekend day by itself does not trigger overtime unless your total weekly hours cross the threshold.
What is half of my wage?
If you are working out time and a half, the “half” is simply your wage divided by two. Half of $24 is $12, so time and a half of $24 is $36. Half of $25 is $12.50, so time and a half is $37.50. The chart above lists both figures side by side for quick reference.
How does time and a half show up on your paycheck?
Most pay stubs list regular and overtime hours on separate lines. You will see your regular hours at your normal rate, then your overtime hours at the higher rate. Adding the two lines gives your gross pay before tax. If your stub only shows a single total, ask your employer for a breakdown so you can check the overtime rate was applied correctly.
Overtime is taxed the same as regular pay, not at a special higher rate. A larger paycheck can push more of your pay into a higher withholding band for that period, which makes it look like more tax was taken, but it evens out across the year based on your real total income.
Does time and a half vary by state or country?
In the US, the federal rule sets time and a half after 40 hours a week, but some states add their own rules. California pays overtime after 8 hours in a single day, and double time after 12 hours in a day. Outside the US, overtime rules differ widely. Some countries set different multipliers or thresholds, and some build overtime into salary agreements. Always check the rules where you actually work.
Frequently asked questions
What is time and a half for $20 an hour?
Time and a half for $20 an hour is $30. Multiply 20 by 1.5. Each overtime hour at this wage pays $30.
What is time and a half for $18 an hour?
Time and a half for $18 an hour is $27. That is $18 plus half of $18, which is $9.
What is time and a half for $25 an hour?
Time and a half for $25 an hour is $37.50. Multiply 25 by 1.5.
How do I calculate time and a half for my pay?
Take your hourly rate and multiply by 1.5. That is your overtime rate. Multiply that by your overtime hours to get your overtime pay, then add your regular pay for the total.
Does time and a half apply to salaried workers?
It depends on your salary and job type. Many salaried roles above a set pay level are exempt from overtime under labor law. Check your classification with your employer.
Is time and a half the same as double time?
No. Time and a half is 1.5 times your rate. Double time is 2 times your rate. Double time is less common and usually comes from a contract or holiday policy rather than federal law.
Try these next
- Hourly to Salary Calculator – turn your hourly wage into a yearly salary
- Annual Income Calculator – convert any pay rate into yearly income
- Pay Raise Calculator – see what a raise adds to your pay
- Salary to Hourly Calculator – break a salary down into an hourly rate
