How to use the Annual Leave
- Enter the full-time annual entitlement in days.
- Enter days worked per week if part-time.
- Enter the start date if you joined part-way through the leave year.
- Read full, pro-rata and accrued-to-date entitlements.
How the calculation works
Part-time entitlement is full-time days × (days worked ÷ full-time days), so a three-day week on a 28-day full-time entitlement gives 16.8 days. Pro-rata for a mid-year start multiplies by the fraction of the leave year remaining. Accrual to date is entitlement × months elapsed ÷ 12, which is the figure used when someone leaves mid-year and untaken leave is paid out.
The UK statutory minimum is 5.6 weeks, which is 28 days for a five-day week and may include public holidays depending on contract. Irregular-hours and zero-hours workers accrue at 12.07% of hours worked, a figure derived from 5.6 ÷ 46.4 remaining working weeks. Rounding conventions matter: statutory entitlement is rounded up, and carry-over rules vary by contract, with most employers permitting only a limited number of days into the next year.
Pro-rata = full entitlement × (days per week / 5) × (months remaining / 12) ; irregular hours accrue at 12.07%Source: UK Working Time Regulations 1998 statutory 5.6-week entitlement and 12.07% accrual method.
Worked example
A 25-day full-time entitlement, joining 1 July, working four days a week.
- Part-time entitlement = 25 × 4/5 = 20 days.
- Six months of the leave year remain.
- Pro-rata = 20 × 6/12 = 10 days.
- Statutory rounding takes it to 10 days.
10 days for the remainder of the leave year, rising to 20 in the first full year.
Frequently asked questions
Do public holidays count towards entitlement?+
They can. The UK statutory 5.6 weeks may include them, depending on the contract.
How does accrual work for zero-hours staff?+
At 12.07% of hours worked, derived from the 5.6-week statutory entitlement.
Can I carry leave over?+
Contract-dependent. Most employers allow a limited carry-over; the statutory minimum generally must be taken in year.
What happens to unused leave when I leave?+
Accrued but untaken statutory leave is paid out in the final salary.
Last reviewed August 31, 2026. We review this page whenever the underlying formula, tax year, published rate or standard changes.