Annual Leave Calculator For Compressed Hours
Work out your statutory annual leave in hours and equivalent compressed working days, with bank holidays and any higher contractual entitlement taken into account.
Annual Leave Inputs
Scenario Analysis: Different Compressed Patterns
| Compressed Pattern | Average Day Length | Entitlement In Days |
|---|---|---|
| 3 days | - | - |
| 4 days | - | - |
| 5 days | - | - |
Total leave in hours stays the same across patterns; only the day-equivalent changes because each compressed day is a different length.
Calculation Breakdown
Statutory estimateEnter your figures to see each calculation step.
Using This At Work
Check your contractConfirm your weekly hours, compressed pattern and whether bank holidays are included.
Calculate your entitlementUse this tool to convert your weekly hours into a leave-in-hours figure.
Confirm with HRCheck the figure against your HR system, which may track leave in hours or days.
Book leave in advanceMost contracts require advance notice, often at least twice the length of the leave requested.
Track your remaining balanceRecalculate after each period of leave taken or bank holiday used.
What Is Compressed Hours Annual Leave?
Compressed hours means fitting your normal weekly hours into fewer, longer working days, for example working 37.5 hours over 4 days rather than 5. Annual leave entitlement is still based on your total weekly hours, so it is best measured in hours rather than days.
How Does Statutory Leave Work?
Almost all UK workers are legally entitled to at least 5.6 weeks of paid holiday a year. For a regular-hours worker this is simply weekly hours multiplied by 5.6. A worker on a standard 5-day week has this capped at 28 days, but compressed-hours workers should compare using hours since their days are longer.
Who Qualifies?
Most workers, including full-time, part-time, and those on compressed-hours patterns, qualify for statutory annual leave from the first day of employment. Entitlement is usually pro-rated for anyone who works part of the year or part-time.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is comparing "days off" directly between a standard 5-day worker and a compressed 4-day worker without adjusting for day length. Another is forgetting that bank holidays may or may not be included in the statutory entitlement, depending on the employer's policy.
What Happens Next?
Once you know your entitlement in hours, convert it to your HR system's tracking method (hours or days), confirm any bank holiday treatment with your employer, and book leave with the required notice period.
Important Considerations
This tool assumes a stable, regular compressed-hours pattern. If your hours vary week to week, a different accrual approach applies. Always check your written contract, since it can only improve on the statutory minimum, never reduce it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are compressed hours?
Compressed hours means working your normal full-time (or part-time) weekly hours over fewer, longer days, for example 37.5 hours over 4 days instead of 5.
How much annual leave am I entitled to on compressed hours?
Almost all UK workers are entitled to at least 5.6 weeks of paid statutory annual leave a year. On a compressed pattern this is best worked out in hours: your weekly hours multiplied by 5.6.
Why calculate leave in hours instead of days?
A compressed working day is usually longer than a standard 7 or 7.5 hour day, so counting leave in days alone can under- or over-value your entitlement. Hours give an accurate figure regardless of pattern.
Is statutory leave capped at 28 days?
For someone working a standard 5-day week, statutory paid holiday is capped at 28 days. Compressed-hours workers should compare using hours, since their "days" are longer.
Do bank holidays count towards my leave?
It depends on your contract. Some employers include the 8 UK bank holidays within the statutory entitlement, others give them in addition. Check your contract or staff handbook.
What if my contractual leave is higher than statutory?
Your contract can always be more generous than the statutory minimum. Use the higher contractual figure if it exceeds the statutory estimate.
Does this work for irregular or zero-hours compressed patterns?
No. This calculator assumes a regular weekly-hours pattern. Irregular or zero-hours work uses a different accrual method based on hours actually worked.
How is the compressed working day length worked out?
Average day length is your total weekly hours divided by the number of compressed working days, for example 37.5 hours over 4 days is 9.375 hours a day.
What happens if I change from 5 days to 4 compressed days?
Your total annual leave in hours should stay the same since it is based on weekly hours, but the number of days off it converts to will fall because each day is longer.
Can my employer round my leave down?
Employers can round leave to administratively convenient figures, but the rounded amount should not fall below your legal minimum entitlement.
Is part-year or mid-year starting handled here?
This calculator estimates a full annual entitlement. If you started partway through the leave year, entitlement is usually pro-rated for the time worked.
What counts as a full week for this calculation?
This tool uses your total contracted weekly hours regardless of how they are spread across your compressed days.
Where can I check the official rules?
GOV.UK publishes holiday entitlement rights and an official holiday entitlement calculator that can be used alongside this tool.
Is this legal advice?
No. This is a general estimate only and is not legal or HR advice.
What should I do if I think my leave is wrong?
Check your contract and staff handbook first, then raise it with HR or your manager. ACAS and Citizens Advice can help if it is not resolved.
Sources
Last updated: 2026-07-01. This page gives an estimate only and is not legal, tax, financial, or employment advice.