Double Time Calculator
Quickly compute your double time pay — earnings at 2x your regular hourly rate. Enter your base wage and double time hours to see your premium rate, total double time earnings, and combined pay if you also worked regular hours.
Double Time Results
- California law: After 12 hours in a single workday, and after 8 hours on the 7th consecutive day of a workweek.
- Union contracts: Many collective bargaining agreements mandate 2x pay for holidays, Sundays, or extreme schedules.
- Holidays: Some employers voluntarily pay double time on federal holidays even though it's not required by federal law.
- Hazardous or on-call work: Certain industries and contracts use 2x as a premium for emergency call-outs.
Double Time vs Time and a Half
The federal FLSA only requires time and a half (1.5x) after 40 hours per workweek — there is no federal double time mandate. Double time is most often a state law (California), a union contract provision, or a voluntary employer benefit for holidays. Always check your employee handbook and state labor department for the rules that apply to your job.
How to Calculate Double Time
Multiply your regular hourly rate by 2.0. A worker earning $30/hr receives $60/hr for each double time hour. Five double time hours = $300 — on top of regular earnings.
How This Calculator Works
The tool applies a flat 2x premium. It multiplies your base hourly rate by 2 to produce your double time rate, then multiplies that rate by the double time hours you entered: double time pay = (base rate × 2) × double time hours. If you also enter regular hours, it values those at straight time (base rate × regular hours) and adds the two figures for a combined gross. Because the federal FLSA contains no double time rule, this calculator assumes your 2x obligation comes from a state law, a union agreement, or company policy. It does not blend any time-and-a-half hours into the result — double time and time and a half are separate premium tiers, and most California schedules that reach double time pass through a time-and-a-half band first. Enter only the hours that actually qualify for the 2x rate in the double time field, and keep your straight-time hours in the regular field, so the combined gross reflects how your employer would line-item the shift on a real pay stub.
A Worked Example
Imagine a California employee earning $25.00 an hour who works a 13-hour shift. The first 8 hours are straight time (8 × $25.00 = $200.00). Hours 9 through 12 are time and a half (4 × $37.50 = $150.00). The 13th hour crosses into double time at $25.00 × 2 = $50.00. For just the double time portion, this calculator shows 1 hour × $50.00 = $50.00. Add the regular and time-and-a-half bands and the full shift grosses $400.00. When I audit California timecards, the 12-hour line is the one employers miss most — everything past it must flip to the 2x rate. — Carla Mendez
What Affects Your Result
- State law. California is the main state mandating daily double time; most states have no double time requirement at all.
- Union or collective bargaining agreements. Many contracts set 2x pay for holidays, Sundays, the seventh consecutive workday, or extreme schedules.
- Employer holiday policy. Double time on federal holidays is a voluntary benefit, not a legal requirement, so it varies by company.
- Your regular rate of pay. Bonuses and shift differentials must be included in the base rate before the 2x multiplier is applied.
- Exemption status. Exempt salaried employees are generally not eligible for any overtime premium, including double time.
- How daily hours stack. Double time usually applies only after lower premium tiers are exhausted for the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does federal law require double time?
No. The Fair Labor Standards Act only mandates time and a half after 40 hours in a workweek. Double time comes from state law, a union contract, or a voluntary employer policy — never from federal overtime rules alone.
When does California require double time?
California requires double time after 12 hours worked in a single workday, and for all hours beyond 8 on the seventh consecutive day of work in a workweek. Below those thresholds, daily overtime is paid at time and a half.
Is holiday pay always double time?
No federal law requires extra pay for working a holiday. Some employers and union contracts provide double time on holidays, but unless your policy says so, holiday hours are paid at your normal rate.
How do I calculate double time pay?
Multiply your regular hourly rate by 2 to get the double time rate, then multiply by the number of double time hours. For example, $25 per hour becomes $50 per hour, so 4 double time hours equal $200.