UK Holiday Entitlement Calculator 2026

Work out your statutory holiday allowance. Full-time, part-time, zero-hours, compressed hours, and mid-year starters.

Last verified 2 May 2026 · Sourced from UK Working Time Regulations 1998 (with 2024 amendments) and ACAS guidance

Your holiday entitlement

28 days

210 hours

5.6 x 5 days = 28 days

The statutory minimum for a 5-day week worker is 28 days (5.6 weeks).

5.6 weeks = 28 days

Almost all UK workers are entitled to a minimum of 5.6 weeks of paid holiday per year. For someone working 5 days a week, that equals 28 days. Your employer can choose to include bank holidays within this total.

Quick Reference: Holiday by Days Worked

Days per weekHoliday days
15.6
1.58.4
211.2
2.514
316.8
3.519.6
422.4
4.525.2
528
628

Statutory entitlement is capped at 28 days, even for workers doing 6 or 7 days per week.

How UK Holiday Entitlement Works

Full-time workers

  • •28 days per year (5.6 weeks)
  • •This is the statutory minimum
  • •Employer can include bank holidays
  • •Your contract may offer more

Part-time workers

  • •Pro-rated: 5.6 x days per week
  • •3 days/week = 16.8 days
  • •Calculate in hours if days vary
  • •Same rights as full-time colleagues

Zero-hours / irregular

  • •12.07% of hours worked
  • •Accrued per pay period
  • •New rules from April 2024
  • •Rolled-up holiday pay option

Mid-year starters

  • •Pro-rated by months remaining
  • •Entitlement from day one
  • •No qualifying period
  • •Same formula for leavers

Compressed hours

  • •Same total hours as standard
  • •Fewer but longer days off
  • •4-day week = 22.4 days off
  • •Always calculate in hours first

Term-time workers

  • •5.6 weeks still applies
  • •Holiday taken in non-term time
  • •Spread salary often includes it
  • •52-week average method (not 12.07%)

Sector-Specific Calculators and Guides

Some sectors and contract types have their own rules layered on top of the statutory minimum. NHS staff get tiered service-year leave; teachers have STPCD directed time instead of annual leave; the April 2024 reform changed the rules for irregular and part-year workers.

NHS Agenda for Change

27, 29, or 33 days plus 8 BH by service tier. Pro-rated against the 37.5h week.

Calculator →

Teachers (STPCD)

195 directed days (190 pupil + 5 INSET). Part-time pro-rata and INSET allocation.

Calculator →

April 2024 Reform

The amendment that restored 12.07% accrual and re-legalised rolled-up holiday pay.

Explainer →

Tribunal Case Law

Harpur Trust, British Gas v Lock, Bear Scotland, Plumb v Duncan Print, in plain English.

Guide →

Bank Holidays 2026: England and Wales

DateDayBank Holiday
1 JanuaryThursdayNew Year's Day
3 AprilFridayGood Friday
6 AprilMondayEaster Monday
4 MayMondayEarly May Bank Holiday
25 MayMondaySpring Bank Holiday
31 AugustMondaySummer Bank Holiday
25 DecemberFridayChristmas Day
28 DecemberMondayBoxing Day (substitute)

Scotland has 9 bank holidays (including 2 January and 30 November). Northern Ireland has 10 (including 17 March and 13 July). See full bank holiday calendar

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days holiday am I entitled to in the UK?
Almost all UK workers are entitled to 5.6 weeks of paid holiday per year. For a full-time worker doing 5 days per week, that equals 28 days. Your employer can include bank holidays in this total. Part-time workers receive a pro-rated amount.
Do bank holidays count as part of my 28 days?
Yes. There is no separate legal right to time off on bank holidays. Employers can include the 8 bank holidays (England and Wales) within your 28-day statutory entitlement. Check your contract for the specific arrangement.
How is part-time holiday entitlement calculated?
Part-time holiday is calculated pro-rata: 5.6 x the number of days you work per week. For example, 3 days per week gives 16.8 days. The statutory maximum is capped at 28 days.
How does the 12.07% accrual method work?
Since April 2024, irregular hours and part-year workers accrue holiday at 12.07% of hours worked. The figure comes from 5.6 weeks divided by 46.4 working weeks. For every 100 hours worked, you earn 12.07 hours of paid holiday.
What if I start a job mid-year?
Your entitlement is pro-rated for the remaining months. Divide your annual entitlement by 12, then multiply by the number of complete months remaining. Entitlement starts from day one with no qualifying period.
Can I carry over unused holiday?
The additional 1.6 weeks (8 days for full-time workers) can be carried over with employer agreement. The first 4 weeks generally cannot unless sickness, maternity leave, or employer refusal prevented you from taking it.
Do I accrue holiday during maternity leave?
Yes. You continue to build up your full statutory holiday entitlement throughout maternity, paternity, adoption, and shared parental leave. You can take accrued holiday before or after your leave period.
What happens to my holiday if I am off sick?
You continue to accrue holiday while on sick leave. If you fall ill during booked holiday, you can ask to reclassify those days as sick leave. Holiday untaken due to long-term sickness can carry over for up to 18 months.
Can my employer force me to take holiday?
Yes. Employers can direct when you take holiday, provided they give notice of at least twice the length of the holiday. For example, to require 1 week off they must give at least 2 weeks' notice.
What should I do if my employer is not giving correct holiday entitlement?
Calculate your statutory minimum, check your contract, and raise it with your employer in writing. If unresolved, contact ACAS on 0300 123 1100 for free advice. You can make a claim to an employment tribunal within 3 months minus 1 day.

This calculator provides estimates based on UK statutory minimum entitlement under the Working Time Regulations 1998. Your employer may offer more than the statutory minimum. This site is not affiliated with ACAS, HMRC, or the UK Government. For formal advice on a workplace dispute, contact ACAS on 0300 123 1100.

Updated 2026-04-27