Use our free UK overtime calculator to find out exactly how much your unpaid overtime is costing you. Whether you regularly stay late, skip lunch breaks, or answer emails outside of contracted hours, this tool helps you put a monetary value on the extra time you give your employer each week and year. Simply enter your contracted hours, the unpaid overtime you typically work, and your annual salary to get your results instantly.
How to use this unpaid UK overtime calculator
- Enter your contracted weekly hours (eg 37.5 hours)
- Enter how many hours of unpaid overtime you typically work each week
- Enter your annual salary
The calculator will then show you your hourly rate and the weekly and annual value of your unpaid overtime.
Unpaid UK overtime calculator
How many hours are you contracted to work per week?
You have selected: 37.5 hours
Over an average week, how much unpaid work do you usually do for your employer? (include any time spent working through breaks and before or after your contracted hours of work)
You have selected: 3.0 hours
What's your annual salary?
Your hourly rate of pay is:
£0
Weekly unpaid overtime value:
£0
Annual unpaid overtime value:
£0
What is overtime? Are UK workers entitled to be paid for it?
In the UK, overtime refers to any hours worked beyond your contracted hours. While there is no automatic legal right to be paid for overtime, employers must ensure that your total pay – when averaged across all hours worked, including overtime – doesn’t fall below the National Minimum Wage (NMW).
Many UK employees work unpaid overtime regularly without realising how significant the financial impact is. Our unpaid UK overtime calculator helps make that impact visible, giving you a clearer picture of the true value of your time.
Why does unpaid overtime matter?
2026 research by the TUC found that 3.5 million UK workers – nearly one in eight – regularly work unpaid overtime, missing out on an average of £8,100 each per year. The total value of unpaid overtime in the UK reached £28.5 billion in 2025.
Understanding the monetary value of your overtime is the first step to having an informed conversation with your manager or HR team about workload, compensation, or flexible working arrangements.
How to manage overtime in your organisation
If you're an HR professional, ensuring paid overtime is accurately captured and processed in payroll is an important part of workforce management. Our integrated HR and payroll software automates complex pay calculations – including paid overtime – so you can be confident that your people are paid on time and accurately, every time.
FAQs
Is unpaid overtime legal in the UK?
Unless it is specified in your contract, overtime pay is not automatically a legal requirement in the UK. But employers must ensure total pay across all hours worked meets the NMW. Employees should check their employment contract, as some roles include an expectation of occasional unpaid overtime.
How do I calculate my overtime pay in the UK?
To calculate the value of your overtime, divide your annual salary by your total working hours (contracted hours multiplied by working weeks) to calculate your hourly wage. Then multiply that by the number of overtime hours you work. Our UK overtime calculator does this automatically.
Can I claim back pay for unpaid overtime in the UK?
In some circumstances, yes. If unpaid overtime brings your average pay below the NMW, you may be entitled to claim back pay. Speak to your employer or HR team in these circumstances or seek advice from an employment law specialist.
What is the difference between paid and unpaid overtime?
Paid overtime is additional work compensated at your standard or an enhanced rate (eg time-and-a-half). Unpaid overtime is additional work performed above contracted hours with no extra pay. This calculator focuses on unpaid overtime.