What Is Time and a Half? (And How to Calculate It)
Time and a half means 1.5× your hourly rate. Learn when it applies, how to calculate it for any wage, and common myths about weekends and holidays.
"Time and a half" is the everyday name for the standard overtime premium: 1.5 times your regular hourly rate. It is what the FLSA requires for hours worked over 40 in a workweek.
How to calculate it
Multiply your hourly rate by 1.5. At $16/hour, time and a half is $24/hour. At $22/hour it is $33/hour. For a week with overtime, pay the first 40 hours at the regular rate and the rest at time and a half.
When does time and a half apply?
Federally, only for hours over 40 in a week. There is no federal rule requiring extra pay just because you worked a weekend, a holiday, or a night shift, unless those hours push you past 40. Some employers and union contracts pay a premium for holidays or weekends voluntarily, and a few states have daily overtime rules.