Holiday Pay Calculator — Estimate Unpaid Holiday Pay Owed
Enter your hourly rate, hours per holiday, and number of unpaid holidays — get an instant estimate of holiday pay owed.
Formula: Hourly rate × hours per holiday × number of unpaid holidays. Example: $20/hr × 8 hours × 3 holidays = $480 owed. No federal law requires holiday pay in the US — eligibility depends on your state and employer policy.
Estimated unpaid holiday pay: —
On this page: How holiday pay is calculated · Who qualifies · US vs Canada rules · FAQ
Related: Holiday pay laws and employer obligations · Back pay calculator · Unused vacation pay calculator
How Holiday Pay Is Calculated
Holiday pay is calculated by multiplying your regular hourly rate by the hours you would normally work on that holiday. Most full-time employees receive 8 hours of holiday pay per day. The formula is: hourly rate × hours per holiday × number of holidays.
Holiday Pay Example
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Hourly rate | $20.00 |
| Hours per holiday | 8 hours |
| Unpaid holidays | 5 |
| Estimated holiday pay owed | $800.00 |
This estimate covers base holiday pay only. If you worked on a holiday and were entitled to a premium rate (1.5× or 2×), calculate using the Overtime Pay Calculator with the appropriate multiplier.
Who Is Entitled to Holiday Pay?
Holiday pay entitlement depends on your country, state, employment status, and employer policy. Key rules:
- United States — no federal requirement: The FLSA does not require employers to pay for holidays. Holiday pay is purely based on employer policy or employment contracts. If your employer's policy promises holiday pay and doesn't deliver, that's a wage violation — but there's no baseline federal entitlement.
- State-level rules: No US state currently mandates holiday pay for private-sector employees as a general rule. Rhode Island requires time-and-a-half for certain retail workers on holidays. Massachusetts previously required Sunday/holiday premium pay but phased it out.
- Federal employees: Federal workers are entitled to 11 paid federal holidays per year under the Federal Employees Pay Act.
- Union contracts: Collective bargaining agreements frequently require holiday pay, specific holidays, or premium rates for working on holidays.
- Part-time workers: Entitlement varies by employer policy. Some employers pro-rate holiday pay based on hours worked; others exclude part-time workers entirely.
Holiday Pay Rules: US vs Canada
Holiday pay works very differently on each side of the border:
| Rule | United States | Canada |
|---|---|---|
| Federal requirement | None for private sector | 10 federal statutory holidays under the Canada Labour Code |
| Who it covers | Only if promised by employer | Most federally regulated employees; provinces have their own lists |
| Calculation method | Per employer policy | Generally average daily pay based on wages earned in prior weeks |
| Working on a holiday | No mandatory premium (unless contracted) | Typically entitled to regular holiday pay plus premium pay (1.5×) for hours worked |
| Provincial rules | N/A — state rules vary | Each province has its own list of holidays and calculation methods (Ontario, BC, Quebec, Alberta each differ) |
Canadian holiday pay calculations can be complex — particularly the "average day's pay" formula used in Ontario and some other provinces. For detailed rules by province, see holiday pay laws and employer obligations.
Related Wage Calculators
Frequently Asked Questions
What is unpaid holiday pay?
Unpaid holiday pay refers to wages owed when an employee does not receive required compensation for statutory or public holidays.
Am I entitled to holiday pay?
In the United States, there is no federal law requiring private employers to pay for holidays. Your entitlement depends on your employer's written policy, employment contract, or collective bargaining agreement. Federal employees are entitled to 11 paid federal holidays. In Canada, most employees are entitled to statutory holiday pay under federal or provincial employment standards. See the who qualifies section above for a full breakdown.
Can unpaid holiday pay be recovered?
Yes, if your employer's policy or contract promised holiday pay and didn't deliver, the unpaid amount is recoverable as unpaid wages. In Canada, statutory holiday pay violations can be reported to the relevant federal or provincial labor authority. US workers can file a wage claim with their state labor board or consult an employment attorney. Time limits for filing vary by jurisdiction — typically 2–3 years.
Is this calculator legally binding?
No. This tool provides an estimate only and does not account for all jurisdiction-specific rules, employer policy variations, or employment contract terms. It is not legal or financial advice. For jurisdiction-specific guidance, see holiday pay laws or consult an employment attorney.
Does this include overtime or premium pay?
No. This calculator estimates base holiday pay only and does not include overtime or premium multipliers.
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