Direct answer
To calculate holiday pay at time and a half, multiply your regular hourly rate by 1.5, then multiply that holiday rate by the number of qualifying holiday hours.
The basic formula is: holiday pay = hourly rate times 1.5 times qualifying holiday hours.
For example, if your regular rate is $18 per hour, time and a half is $27 per hour. If 8 holiday hours qualify, holiday pay is 8 times $27, or $216 before taxes and deductions.
Formula and example
Holiday pay is policy dependent. The calculator can do the math, but your policy decides which holiday hours qualify.
Some employers pay regular rate, some pay time and a half, some provide separate paid holiday hours, and some require eligibility conditions.
Comparison table
| Hourly rate | Time-and-a-half rate | Qualifying hours | Gross holiday pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15/hour | $22.50/hour | 8 | $180 |
| $18/hour | $27/hour | 8 | $216 |
| $22/hour | $33/hour | 6 | $198 |
| $25/hour | $37.50/hour | 10 | $375 |
Step-by-step calculation
Key checks
- Confirm that the holiday hours actually qualify for time-and-a-half pay under the policy or rule being used.
- Multiply the regular hourly rate by 1.5 to get the holiday premium rate.
- Count only the holiday hours that qualify for the premium, especially if only part of the shift is covered.
- Multiply qualifying hours by the premium rate to estimate gross holiday pay before taxes and deductions.
- Check whether holiday pay interacts with overtime, paid holiday hours, or other premiums before relying on the final paycheck estimate.
Worked example
A useful example is easier to trust when each assumption is visible. The sample below follows the same order you should use for your own numbers.
Key checks
- At $18 per hour, time and a half equals $27 per qualifying holiday hour.
- If 8 holiday hours qualify, gross holiday pay is 8 x $27, or $216.
- If only part of the shift qualifies, calculate the premium only on those qualifying hours.
What can change the result
Overtime can make holiday pay more complicated. Holiday hours may or may not count toward overtime depending on how the employer treats them.
Eligibility rules can include job role, full-time status, probation period, scheduled shift, or whether the employee worked before or after the holiday.
If holiday pay and overtime both appear on a paycheck, separate qualifying hours before comparing the total.
Common mistakes to avoid
Key checks
- Do not assume every holiday automatically pays time and a half.
- Do not apply the holiday premium to hours that did not qualify under the policy.
- Do not confuse paid holiday hours with holiday hours actually worked.
- Do not forget taxes and deductions when comparing gross holiday pay with take-home pay.
- Do not combine overtime and holiday premiums without checking whether they stack or are calculated separately.
When to use the calculator
Use the holiday pay calculator when checking a holiday shift, estimating a holiday paycheck, or comparing regular pay with premium pay.
A good workflow is to answer the narrow question first, then open Holiday Pay Calculator when you need to test different inputs or carry the result into another work decision.
Open Holiday Pay Calculator