California Overtime Calculator
California overtime calculator: enter shifts to see daily overtime after 8 hours, double time after 12 hours and weekly overtime after 40 hours.
Scope: California thresholds only. Exemptions and alternative workweeks are not covered. See the full list.
What this covers
- Overtime for hours over 8 in a workday
- Double time for hours over 12 in a workday
- Overtime for hours over 40 in a workweek
- The seventh consecutive workday rule
What it does not cover
- Alternative workweek schedules
- Whether you are exempt
- Meal period and rest break premiums
- Other exceptions listed on the state's exceptions page
- Paid holidays and union contracts
Why each day has overtime
| Day | Paid | Regular | Overtime | Double time | Reason |
|---|
California overtime rules at a glance
These are the rules this calculator applies. Each links to the California Department of Industrial Relations.
| Rule | Threshold | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily overtime | Over 8 hours in a workday, up to 12 | 1.5x | DIR overtime FAQ |
| Daily double time | Over 12 hours in a workday | 2x | DIR overtime FAQ |
| Weekly overtime | Over 40 hours in a workweek | 1.5x | DIR overtime FAQ |
| Seventh consecutive day | First 8 hours on the seventh day, then beyond 8 | 1.5x, then 2x | DIR overtime FAQ |
At $20.00 an hour, that means $30.00 an hour for overtime and $40.00 an hour for double time. Hours are not counted twice: an hour that is already overtime because it is over 8 in a day is not counted again toward the weekly overtime.
How the calculator applies the rules
A workday is any 24 hour period that starts at the same time each calendar day, and your employer picks that start hour and keeps it. A workweek is seven of those days in a row. The calculator assumes a workday that starts at 12:00 AM unless you change it. The calculator splits each shift at the start of the workday, so a night shift that runs past midnight counts toward two workdays. You can change the workday start under Rules and settings. See the DIR page on the workday and workweek and CalChamber's article on how the workday definition changes daily overtime.
It then applies the rules in a fixed order for each workweek: the seventh day, then double time over 12, then overtime over 8, and last the weekly overtime for any regular hours left over 40. No hour is paid at two premium rates, so there is no stacking. The seventh-day rule only applies when all seven days of the workweek have hours.
Three steps
- Pick the day your workweek starts, then enter each shift.
- Check the reason shown for each day.
- Add your hourly rate to see pay by rule.
Worked examples
Monday 13 hours, Tuesday 8 and Wednesday 8 at $20.00 an hour. Monday has 8:00 regular, 4:00 overtime (the hours from 8 to 12) and 1:00 double time (the hour past 12). Tuesday and Wednesday are 8:00 each. The week is 24:00 regular, 4:00 overtime and 1:00 double time. Pay is $480.00 + $120.00 + $40.00 = $640.00. Press Fill example to load it.
Seven days of 8:00 each is 56:00. The first 40:00 are regular. The last 16:00 is overtime, which is 8:00 from the sixth day pushing past 40 and 8:00 on the seventh day. At $20.00 an hour that is $800.00 + $480.00 = $1,280.00.
Questions people ask
How do you calculate overtime in California?
Hours over 8 in a workday are paid at 1.5 times the regular rate, hours over 12 in a workday at 2 times, and hours over 40 in a workweek at 1.5 times. The seventh consecutive workday in a workweek has its own rule. See the DIR overtime FAQ.
What is the 7-day overtime rule in California?
When you work all seven days of a workweek, the first 8 hours on the seventh day are paid at 1.5 times your regular rate and any hours beyond 8 on that day at 2 times. This calculator applies that when every day of the week has hours. See the DIR overtime FAQ.
Can you work four ten-hour days without overtime?
Only under a valid alternative workweek schedule, which this calculator does not model. Without one, hours over 8 in a day are overtime. See the DIR exceptions page.
How much is overtime for $20 an hour in California?
$30.00 an hour for overtime and $40.00 an hour for double time. 4 hours of overtime and 1 hour of double time is $120.00 + $40.00 = $160.00 in addition to regular pay.
How does a night shift that crosses midnight count?
By workday. A workday can start at any hour your employer chooses. If it starts at midnight, the hours before midnight go to one day and the hours after go to the next, so a long overnight shift can reach daily overtime on neither day. If it starts at, say, 6:00 AM, the whole shift may fall inside one workday. Set the start under Rules and settings. See CalChamber's article.
Is rounding allowed in California?
It is unsettled where exact times are recorded. In 2022 a California Court of Appeal decision in Camp v. Home Depot, described by Proskauer, questioned rounding when accurate time records exist. The California Supreme Court agreed to review the case in 2023 (Arent Fox Schiff has a summary), and when I last checked I found no ruling from it. The calculator keeps rounding off by default and shows a warning if you turn it on. Ask your employer or a lawyer about your situation.
About this calculator
This page follows the state's own published pages, not my reading of the statute. The thresholds come from the California Department of Industrial Relations pages on the workday and workweek, the overtime FAQ and the exceptions. I did not use the text of the Labor Code itself, and I have not checked the exceptions in detail, which is why the box at the top lists what is left out.
I tested it with the 13 hour Monday case ($640.00 for the week) and the seven 8 hour days case ($1,280.00). The calculator shows how each day's hours were split so you can check it against the rules above.
I last checked the sources linked on this page on October 8, 2026.
This calculator gives estimates for checking and planning pay. It is not legal, tax or payroll advice. Your employer's pay policy, your contract and the law where you work decide what you are owed. Overtime rules apply to non-exempt employees. This tool does not decide whether you are exempt. California overtime has many exceptions, and the rules change. Check the Department of Industrial Relations or an employment lawyer for your situation.