At a $20 regular hourly rate, time and a half is $30 per qualifying hour because $20 × 1.5 = $30.
Time and a half means 1.5× the regular rate
Time and a half means one and one-half times the applicable regular rate of pay. In a simple hourly example, multiply the regular rate by 1.5.
If the regular rate is $20 per hour, the time-and-a-half rate is $30. If the regular rate is $24, the 1.5× rate is $36.
Time-and-a-half formula
For a straightforward example, Time-and-a-half rate = regular rate × 1.5. Time-and-a-half pay for qualifying hours = time-and-a-half rate × qualifying hours.
This page explains what the term means. For a complete overtime calculation that also separates regular hours and overtime hours, use the broader How to Calculate Overtime Pay guide.
| Regular rate | 1.5× rate | Pay for 5 hours at 1.5× |
|---|---|---|
| $15 | $22.50 | $112.50 |
| $20 | $30.00 | $150.00 |
| $25 | $37.50 | $187.50 |
| $30 | $45.00 | $225.00 |
When does federal overtime use time and a half?
Under the federal FLSA, covered nonexempt employees generally must receive overtime pay at not less than one and one-half times their regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek.
That is the federal baseline, not a universal statement about every worker or every state. Exemptions and state overtime laws can change which rules apply.
Is time and a half automatically required on weekends or holidays?
No. The Department of Labor states that the FLSA does not automatically require premium pay simply because work occurs on a Saturday, Sunday, holiday, or regular day of rest.
An employer policy, union agreement, contract, or state law can provide additional premium pay. The reason an hour receives 1.5× matters; do not assume every holiday or weekend hour qualifies under federal law.
Regular rate is not always the same as the stated hourly wage
For a simple hourly employee, the regular rate may match the stated hourly rate. In other situations, certain bonuses, commissions, multiple rates, or other compensation can affect the regular-rate calculation.
The Department of Labor's regular-rate guidance explains that overtime calculations can require more than multiplying the base wage by 1.5. Complex payroll situations should use the applicable regular-rate rules.
Example: six qualifying hours at a $20 regular rate
A $20 regular rate produces a $30 time-and-a-half rate. Six qualifying hours at $30 equal $180 in time-and-a-half pay.
If those six hours are overtime after 40 regular hours in the same workweek, a simple example would also include the regular pay for the first 40 hours. The broader total-pay arithmetic belongs in the Overtime Pay Calculator or overtime calculation guide.
Time and a half vs overtime pay
Time and a half describes a 1.5× pay rate. Overtime pay describes premium pay due for qualifying overtime hours. They often appear together, but the terms are not identical.
A calculator can multiply the rate and hours once the assumptions are known; it cannot determine legal eligibility, classification, or which state rule applies.
Use the calculator for a quick 1.5× result
Use the Time and a Half Calculator when you already know a 1.5× rate applies and want the premium rate and overtime amount instantly. Use the Overtime Pay Calculator when you want to enter regular hours, overtime hours, and a multiplier.
For the broader method and regular-rate caveats, see How to Calculate Overtime Pay.
Continue with a calculation