Hours Calculator · Practical guide
How to Calculate Overtime Over 40 Hours
The FLSA 40-hour rule, 1.5x pay math, daily-overtime states, and worked examples at $15, $18, and $25 an hour.
At a glance
The Federal Rule
Under the FLSA, hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek are paid at 1.5 times your regular rate. Work 48 hours at $18 an hour and you get 40 x $18 = $720 plus 8 x $27 = $216, for a gross week of $936.
Interactive tool
Hours Calculator
Enter your own values, then compare the result with the examples below.
Results
Step-by-Step Overtime Math
- Total all hours worked in the workweek (end time minus start time minus breaks, for each day).
- Regular hours = the lesser of your total or 40; overtime hours = the rest.
- Overtime rate = hourly rate x 1.5.
- Pay = (regular hours x rate) + (overtime hours x rate x 1.5).
Daily Overtime States
Some states add daily triggers: California pays 1.5x after 8 hours in a day and 2x after 12. Where daily and weekly rules overlap, you are owed the calculation that produces more overtime — not both added together. A 10-hour day still counts once, even if it also pushes the week past 40.
Two More Worked Examples
- 42 hours at $15: 40 x $15 = $600 plus 2 x $22.50 = $45, total $645.
- 50 hours at $25: 40 x $25 = $1,000 plus 10 x $37.50 = $375, total $1,375.
Enter your shifts, rate, and thresholds above; the calculator applies the larger of daily or weekly overtime automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is overtime based on a day or a week?
Federal law uses the workweek (over 40 hours). A few states also use daily thresholds like 8 hours, and the more generous result applies.
Can my employer average two weeks together?
No. Each workweek stands alone for FLSA overtime — 50 hours one week and 30 the next still earns 10 overtime hours.
Does PTO count toward the 40 hours?
Usually not. Federal overtime is based on hours actually worked, though company policy may be more generous.
What if I have two rates in one week?
Overtime uses a weighted average of the rates you earned that week, so the premium reflects your blended pay.