Overtime Rules in France
In France, overtime starts after 35 hours in a week and is paid at 1.25× the regular rate.
- Daily overtime after
- Not set nationally
- Weekly overtime after
- 35 hour
- Overtime rate
- 1.25×
- Maximum weekly hours
- 48 hour
- Rest break
- 20 minute · 6 hours
- Source
- legifrance.gouv.fr
When overtime starts in France
Not every threshold on this page is fixed by national law in France. The figures above are what the statute sets; where one is marked as not set nationally, the point at which overtime begins, or the rate it is paid at, comes from the employment contract, the collective agreement or sector rules instead.
An empty figure is information rather than an omission. Read the source linked below before applying any of these numbers to a specific contract in France.
Maximum weekly hours
The maximum working week in France is 48 hours, including overtime. Averaging arrangements over a reference period are common and may change how the limit applies to any single week.
Rest breaks
A rest break of at least 20 minutes applies once a shift exceeds 6 hours. Unpaid breaks are excluded from paid hours, which is how the hours calculator treats the break field by default.
Calculate overtime pay for France
Select France in the hours calculator or the timesheet and these thresholds and the 1.25× multiplier are applied to your week automatically. Overtime hours are shown on their own line rather than folded into the total, so the figure can be checked against the statute.
As of Setyembre 21, 2026
This page summarises the statutory baseline in France for general information. It is not legal advice, collective agreements and sector rules can set different terms, and labour law changes. Check legifrance.gouv.fr before relying on any figure.
Questions and answers
When does overtime start in France?
After 35 hours in a week. France does not set a separate daily overtime threshold, so hours are measured against the week.
How much is overtime pay in France?
Overtime is paid at 1.25× the regular hourly rate under the rule cited on this page. Collective agreements may set a higher rate.
What is the maximum number of hours per week in France?
48 hours including overtime, subject to any averaging or sector exceptions that apply in France.
Are rest breaks required in France?
A break of at least 20 minutes is required once a shift passes 6 hours. Whether it is paid depends on the contract.
Where do these figures come from?
From legifrance.gouv.fr, the statutory instrument for working time in France. Where a figure is uncertain it is left blank rather than estimated.