Overtime Rate Calculator for UK Trades
Calculate time-and-a-half (1.5x), double-time (2x), weekend rates, and total weekly earnings. Free overtime calculator for plumbers, electricians, HVAC engineers, and all UK trade businesses.
Pay Rates
Your standard hourly rate for normal working hours
Weekly Hours Worked
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm (typical 40-hour week)
Weekday evenings, Saturdays
Sundays, bank holidays, emergency callouts
Weekly Earnings
Total Weekly Pay (Take-Home Before Tax)
£720
Average: £18.00/hour
Pay Breakdown
Total Cost to Employer
£841
Wage: £720
Employer NI (13.8%): +£99
Pension (3%): +£22
📅 Annual Projection
⏰ Standard Rates
Time-and-a-half (1.5x) is typical for weekday overtime and Saturdays. Double-time (2x) for Sundays and bank holidays.
💰 Employer Costs
Don't forget Employer NI (13.8%) and pension (3% minimum). Overtime costs you 16-17% more than the wage.
👷 When to Hire
If overtime exceeds 15-20% of total hours regularly, it's usually cheaper to hire another employee.
How Overtime Pay Works for UK Trades
Overtime pay is not a legal requirement in the UK—there's no statutory right to enhanced overtime rates. However, most trade businesses pay enhanced rates for overtime, weekends, and bank holidays to attract and retain good workers. This calculator helps you work out fair overtime rates for your team.
Standard Overtime Rates in UK Trades
- Time-and-a-Half (1.5x):Weekday evenings after normal hours, Saturday mornings
- Double-Time (2x):Sundays, bank holidays, emergency callouts
- Triple-Time (3x):Christmas Day, New Year's Day (rare but some companies offer this)
These rates are industry standard rather than legal requirements. Your employment contracts should clearly state what overtime rates you pay. Many trade businesses use 1.5x for most overtime and 2x for weekends/bank holidays.
What About National Minimum Wage?
Even though enhanced overtime rates aren't mandatory, you must still pay at least National Minimum Wagefor ALL hours worked (including overtime). As of 2025/26:
- £11.44/hour — Workers aged 21+
- £8.60/hour — Workers aged 18-20
- £6.40/hour — Apprentices under 19 (or in first year)
If your basic hourly rate is £15/hour, you can't pay less than £15/hour for overtime—but you'd typically pay £22.50/hour (1.5x) or £30/hour (2x) to make overtime worthwhile for your team.
How to Calculate Time-and-a-Half (1.5x)
Time-and-a-half means 1.5 times your normal hourly rate.
Example:
- Normal rate: £18/hour
- Time-and-a-half rate: £18 × 1.5 = £27/hour
- For 4 hours overtime: £27 × 4 = £108
Use time-and-a-half for weekday evenings (after 6pm), Saturday mornings, or any hours beyond your contracted 40-hour week.
How to Calculate Double-Time (2x)
Double-time means 2 times your normal hourly rate.
Example:
- Normal rate: £18/hour
- Double-time rate: £18 × 2 = £36/hour
- For a 6-hour Sunday job: £36 × 6 = £216
Use double-time for Sundays, bank holidays, and emergency callouts. This compensates workers fairly for giving up their weekend or being on-call.
Weekly Overtime Example: Plumber
Let's say you're a plumber charging £20/hour for a standard 40-hour week. Here's what a week with overtime looks like:
| Day/Time | Hours | Rate | Pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon-Fri (Normal) | 40 | £20/hr | £800 |
| Friday Evening (1.5x) | 3 | £30/hr | £90 |
| Saturday (1.5x) | 5 | £30/hr | £150 |
| Sunday (2x) | 4 | £40/hr | £160 |
| Total Weekly Pay | 52 hours | — | £1,200 |
That's an extra £400 (50% more) than the base £800 for 40 hours. Overtime can significantly boost your team's take-home pay—but it also increases your costs as an employer.
Employer Costs: Don't Forget NI & Pension
When you pay overtime, remember you also pay Employer's National Insurance (13.8%) andworkplace pension contributions (3% minimum) on top of the wage. This adds 16-17% to your costs.
Example Employer Cost:
- Overtime pay to worker: £200
- Employer NI (13.8%): +£27.60
- Pension contribution (3%): +£6.00
- True cost to you: £233.60
Use our Employee Cost Calculator to work out the full cost of overtime including all employer contributions.
When Should You Pay Overtime Rates?
There's no legal answer, but industry norms matter for recruitment and retention:
✅ Pay Enhanced Rates For:
- • Hours beyond 40/week (1.5x)
- • Weekday evenings after 6pm (1.5x)
- • Saturdays (1.5x)
- • Sundays (2x)
- • Bank holidays (2x)
- • Emergency callouts (2x + callout fee)
❌ Normal Rate Usually OK For:
- • Contracted 40 hours (Mon-Fri)
- • Flexible start/finish times
- • Salaried employees
- • Subcontractors (negotiate rates)
If you don't pay enhanced overtime rates, expect your best workers to leave for competitors who do. In trades, overtime rates are standard practice.
Emergency Callout Rates
Emergency callouts (burst pipes, no heating, electrical faults) often include a callout fee PLUS double-time labour:
Typical Emergency Callout Structure:
- Callout fee: £80-£150 (covers travel, diagnostic time)
- Labour after first hour: £40-£60/hour (double-time)
- Materials: Standard markup (30-50%)
So a 2-hour emergency plumbing job on Sunday might be: £120 callout + (1 hour × £50) + £80 materials = £250 total. Your engineer gets double-time (£50/hr), and you cover the callout fee and markup.
Bank Holidays in UK (2025/26)
In England and Wales, there are 8 bank holidays where you'd typically pay double-time (2x) rates:
- • New Year's Day (1 January 2026)
- • Good Friday (3 April 2026)
- • Easter Monday (6 April 2026)
- • Early May Bank Holiday (4 May 2026)
- • Spring Bank Holiday (25 May 2026)
- • Summer Bank Holiday (31 August 2026)
- • Christmas Day (25 December 2025)
- • Boxing Day (26 December 2025)
Scotland and Northern Ireland have slightly different bank holidays. Check your employment contracts to confirm which days count for enhanced overtime rates.
Overtime vs Hiring More Staff
If you're regularly working 10+ hours of overtime per week, it might be cheaper to hire another person:
Overtime Pros:
- • Flexible (only pay when needed)
- • No recruitment costs
- • Existing team knows the work
- • No training or onboarding
Overtime Cons:
- • Expensive (1.5x-2x normal rate)
- • Team burnout risk
- • Quality can drop when tired
- • Limits growth capacity
Use our Employee Cost Calculator to compare the cost of overtime vs hiring a new employee. Often, hiring makes more sense once overtime exceeds 15-20% of total hours.
How to Set Fair Overtime Rates
- Check industry norms: Ask other trade businesses what they pay for overtime. Time-and-a-half for weekdays/Saturdays and double-time for Sundays/bank holidays is standard.
- Put it in contracts: Your employment contracts should clearly state normal hours, overtime rates, and when enhanced rates apply. No ambiguity.
- Be consistent: If you pay one engineer 1.5x for Saturday, pay all engineers the same. Inconsistent overtime pay causes resentment.
- Consider callout fees: Emergency callouts should include a minimum callout fee (£80-£150) PLUS double-time labour. This compensates for disruption and travel.
- Review annually: If you increase base hourly rates, your overtime rates automatically increase too. Factor this into your pricing and margins.
Common Overtime Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Paying Normal Rate for All Hours
Your best workers will leave for competitors who pay 1.5x-2x for overtime. Enhanced rates are industry standard in trades.
❌ No Written Overtime Policy
Verbal agreements cause disputes. Put overtime rates in employment contracts and make sure everyone knows the rules.
❌ Forgetting Employer NI & Pension
Overtime isn't just the wage—add 16-17% for NI and pension. A £200 overtime payment costs you £233.
❌ Using Overtime Instead of Hiring
If overtime is regular (10+ hours/week), it's usually cheaper and healthier to hire another person.
Related Calculators
⏰ Hourly Rate Calculator
Work out what to charge per hour based on your costs and profit targets
👷 Employee Cost Calculator
Calculate the true cost of hiring including NI, pension, and overtime
💰 Job Pricing Calculator
Price jobs accurately with labour, materials, and markup built in
📈 Break-Even Calculator
Work out how many jobs you need to cover fixed costs and make profit
💡 Pro Tip
Set clear overtime rules from day one. Put it in contracts, communicate it clearly, and stick to it. Your team will respect consistency more than random generosity. And always factor overtime costs into your job pricing—don't let weekend work eat into your margins.
Get Overtime Under Control
Use this calculator to set clear overtime rates, then make sure you're logging hours consistently so payroll and pricing stay aligned.
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