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Tax & Salary · Statutory rules

UK Holiday Entitlement Calculator

Every worker in the UK gets at least 5.6 weeks’ paid holiday per year (capped at 28 days). That includes part-time, agency, zero-hours and irregular workers — pro-rated.

days

Statutory: 5.6 weeks × days worked (capped at 28 days for 5+ day weeks).

Statutory entitlement

28.0 days/year

≈ 5.60 weeks — bank holidays may or may not be included depending on your contract.

5 days/wk × 5.6 weeks28.00 days
Annual entitlement28.0 days

How we calculated your result

Days worked per week × 5.6 = annual entitlement, capped at 28 days. For irregular-hours/term-time workers, use the 12.07% accrual method on hours worked.

Official UK rules in simple English

  • 5.6 weeks per year (Working Time Regulations 1998).
  • Cap at 28 days even if you work 6+ days/week.
  • Bank holidays can be included or extra — depends on contract.
  • Irregular hours: 12.07% of hours worked (post-Harpur Trust v Brazel still applies for some; rolled-up holiday pay legalised April 2024 for irregular workers).

Common pitfalls to watch out for

  • ⚠ Bank holidays aren't extra by law

    If your contract says ‘28 days including bank holidays’, that’s the statutory minimum — no extra.

  • ⚠ Carry-over usually only 1.6 weeks

    Only the 1.6 weeks of UK-specific leave (above the 4-week EU minimum) can be carried into next year — and only with employer agreement.

  • ⚠ Term-time-only workers got Brazel'd

    Pre-2024, term-time workers got the full 5.6 weeks even though they only worked 39 weeks. New rules from April 2024 align this with the 12.07% method.

Frequently asked questions

What about my first year?
You accrue 1/12 of your annual entitlement each month for the first year — so 0.47 weeks per month if you do 5 days.
Can my employer make me take leave?
Yes — with twice the notice of the leave period. Common at Christmas shutdowns.

Statutory minimum. Many employers offer more — check your contract.

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