# How much holiday pay will I get?

Works out pay for hours worked on a holiday at time and a half, double time or any rate, plus paid holiday hours off, and the premium over regular pay.

- Page: https://www.acalculator.org/finance/holiday-pay-calculator
- JSON spec: https://www.acalculator.org/finance/holiday-pay-calculator.json
- Version: 71800f3bb7b8

## Default answer

Example with the default inputs (Hourly rate $20.00, Hours worked on the holiday 8, Holiday pay multiplier 1.5, Paid holiday hours not worked 0): Holiday pay: $240.00 ($240.00 for the hours you work, at $30.00 an hour).

## Inputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| rate | Hourly rate | Your regular hourly rate of pay. |
| hrs | Hours worked on the holiday | The hours you work on the holiday. |
| mult | Holiday pay multiplier | Your employer’s holiday rate as a multiple of regular pay: 1.5 for time and a half, 2 for double time. |
| off | Paid holiday hours not worked | Holiday hours your employer pays at the regular rate even though you do not work them (0 if none). |

## Outputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| total | Holiday pay | Pay for the hours worked on the holiday plus pay for paid holiday hours not worked. |
| worked | Pay for hours worked | Hourly rate × hours worked × multiplier. |
| premium | Holiday premium | The extra over regular pay for the hours worked: rate × hours × (multiplier − 1). |
| holidayRate | Holiday hourly rate | Hourly rate × multiplier. |
| paidOffPay | Pay for holiday hours not worked | Hourly rate × paid holiday hours not worked. |

## Method

Pay for hours worked = hourly rate × multiplier × hours worked; premium = hourly rate × (multiplier − 1) × hours; pay for hours not worked = hourly rate × paid hours off; holiday pay = the two pays added.

## Assumptions

- U.S. federal law (the FLSA) requires no holiday pay or premium; your employer’s policy or contract sets the multiplier.
- Federal employees get double pay (a multiplier of 2) for up to 8 hours of non-overtime holiday work.
- Overtime rules for hours over 40 in the week are left out.

## Worked examples

1. rate = $30.00, hrs = 8, mult = 2 gives total = $480.00, worked = $480.00, premium = $240.00, holidayRate = $60.00. Source: OPM, Fact Sheet: Holidays Work Schedules and Pay (holiday work is paid at the rate of basic pay plus holiday premium pay, double or 200 percent of the rate of basic pay). https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-administration/fact-sheets/holidays-work-schedules-and-pay/.
2. rate = $20.00, hrs = 8, mult = 1.5 gives total = $240.00, premium = $80.00, holidayRate = $30.00.
3. rate = $18.50, hrs = 4, mult = 1.5, off = 8 gives worked = $111.00, paidOffPay = $148.00, total = $259.00, premium = $37.00.

## FAQ

### How is holiday pay calculated?

Multiply your hourly rate by the holiday multiplier and by the hours you work. At $20 an hour and time and a half (1.5), 8 holiday hours pay 20 × 1.5 × 8 = $240, which is $80 more than a regular day.

### Is holiday pay required by law?

Not under U.S. federal law. The Department of Labor says the Fair Labor Standards Act does not require pay for time not worked, such as holidays, or a premium for work on a holiday. Holiday pay is a matter of agreement between you and your employer. Some government contracts and union contracts require it.

### What is double time holiday pay?

Twice your regular rate for each holiday hour worked: a multiplier of 2. Federal employees get this for up to 8 hours of non-overtime holiday work: their basic pay plus an equal holiday premium, 200% of the basic rate.

### What if I get the holiday off with pay?

Type the paid hours under Paid holiday hours not worked, such as 8 for a full day. They are paid at your regular rate. If you also work part of the day, the page adds both pays.

### Does holiday pay count toward overtime?

Federal overtime is time and a half for hours worked over 40 in a workweek. Ask your employer whether it counts paid holiday hours toward the 40; this page leaves overtime out.

### Is holiday pay taxed?

Yes. Holiday pay is wages, so income tax, Social Security and Medicare are withheld from it like the rest of your pay.

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Labor, Holiday Pay (the FLSA does not require payment for time not worked, such as holidays; holiday pay is a matter of agreement between employer and employee). https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/workhours/holidays (retrieved 2026-10-05)
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Fact Sheet: Holidays Work Schedules and Pay (holiday work: rate of basic pay plus holiday premium pay, double or 200 percent, for up to 8 hours of non-overtime work). https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-administration/fact-sheets/holidays-work-schedules-and-pay/ (retrieved 2026-10-05)