Time and a half means each overtime hour is paid at 1.5 times your regular rate. Double time means 2 times your regular rate. Time and a half is what federal law requires for overtime. Double time is required only in some states and situations, or when an employer or union contract offers it.
The two rates side by side
| Regular rate | Time and a half (× 1.5) | Double time (× 2) |
|---|---|---|
| $15.00 | $22.50 | $30.00 |
| $18.00 | $27.00 | $36.00 |
| $20.00 | $30.00 | $40.00 |
| $25.00 | $37.50 | $50.00 |
| $30.00 | $45.00 | $60.00 |
Time and a half = regular rate × 1.5 Double time = regular rate × 2
When time and a half applies
Under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, covered nonexempt employees must be paid at least one and a half times their regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek. Each workweek stands alone, so hours cannot be averaged over two weeks. The federal law does not require overtime for working weekends, holidays, or more than 8 hours in a day, as long as the weekly total is 40 or less. See how overtime pay is calculated for the details, including how bonuses raise the regular rate.
When double time applies
Federal law has no double-time requirement. Double time comes from:
- State law. California, for example, requires double time for hours over 12 in a workday and for hours over 8 on the seventh consecutive workday in a workweek. Most states do not require double time; check your state labor department.
- Employment or union contracts, which may pay double time for holidays, Sundays, call-backs, or long shifts.
- Employer policy. Some employers simply offer it, for example for working a holiday.
Check your offer letter, handbook, or contract to see which hours, if any, are paid at double time.
Example: a week with both
You earn $20.00 an hour. In one week you work 48 hours, and your contract pays double time for 4 of them (a holiday shift). The other 4 hours over 40 are time and a half.
| Hours | Rate | Pay |
|---|---|---|
| 40 regular | $20.00 | $800.00 |
| 4 time and a half | $30.00 | $120.00 |
| 4 double time | $40.00 | $160.00 |
| 48 total | $1,080.00 |
At straight time, the same 48 hours would pay $960.00. The overtime premiums add $120.00.
Whether the double-time hours also count toward the 40-hour weekly threshold depends on the rule or contract that grants them. Do not pay the same hour twice: an hour is either time and a half or double time, not both.
Quick check with the calculators
- Overtime calculator: enter overtime and double-time hours with your own multipliers.
- Time card calculator: split a week of clock times into regular, overtime, and double-time hours with daily limits.
- Holiday pay calculator: price a holiday shift at a premium rate.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Labor, Fact Sheet #23: Overtime Pay Requirements of the FLSA
- U.S. Department of Labor, Overtime Pay
- California Labor Commissioner, Overtime FAQ (example of a state rule)
About this guide. Written for US employees as general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules can differ by state, employer, and contract. See our methodology and disclaimer.