Overtime Rules in the United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, overtime is not fixed by a statutory hours threshold, and no statutory rate applies: the premium is set by the employment contract or the collective agreement.
- Daily overtime after
- Not set nationally
- Weekly overtime after
- Not set nationally
- Overtime rate
- Not set nationally
- Maximum weekly hours
- 48 hours
- Rest break
- 20 minutes · 6 hours
- Source
- legislation.gov.uk
When overtime starts in the United Kingdom
Not every threshold on this page is fixed by national law in the United Kingdom. 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 the United Kingdom.
Maximum weekly hours
The maximum working week in the United Kingdom 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 the United Kingdom
Select the United Kingdom in the hours calculator or the timesheet and its thresholds are applied to your week automatically. Because no statutory multiplier applies in the United Kingdom, overtime hours are listed on their own line at the plain hourly rate, and the premium your contract or collective agreement sets is yours to enter.
As of September 21, 2026
This page summarises the statutory baseline in the United Kingdom for general information. It is not legal advice, collective agreements and sector rules can set different terms, and labour law changes. Check legislation.gov.uk before relying on any figure.
Questions and answers
When does overtime start in the United Kingdom?
The statute cited on this page does not set that figure for the United Kingdom. It is left to the employment contract, the collective agreement or sector rules, so check legislation.gov.uk and the agreement that covers the job.
How much is overtime pay in the United Kingdom?
The statute cited on this page does not set that figure for the United Kingdom. It is left to the employment contract, the collective agreement or sector rules, so check legislation.gov.uk and the agreement that covers the job.
What is the maximum number of hours per week in the United Kingdom?
48 hours including overtime, subject to any averaging or sector exceptions that apply in the United Kingdom.
Are rest breaks required in the United Kingdom?
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 legislation.gov.uk, the statutory instrument for working time in the United Kingdom. Where a figure is uncertain it is left blank rather than estimated.