California Overtime Calculator
Pre-set for California law: overtime after 8 hours a day or 40 a week, and double time after 12 hours a day. Enter your shifts and hourly rate to see your pay.
Pick a date to label each row with its real date.
Hours over this per week count as overtime at 1.5× pay. Leave empty to disable.
For states like California: hours over this per day count as overtime. Leave empty to disable.
California pays 2× for hours over 12 in a day. Leave empty to disable.
Most time clocks round each clock-in and clock-out.
| Day | Starting Time | Ending Time | Break Deduction | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | : | : | : | 0.00 |
| Tuesday | : | : | : | 0.00 |
| Wednesday | : | : | : | 0.00 |
| Thursday | : | : | : | 0.00 |
| Friday | : | : | : | 0.00 |
| Saturday | : | : | : | 0.00 |
| Sunday | : | : | : | 0.00 |
Entries are saved automatically in your browser.
California Overtime Rules at a Glance
Federal law only requires overtime after 40 hours in a week. California adds daily overtime and double time, so a single long day can earn premium pay even in a short week.
| Hours worked | Pay rate |
|---|---|
| Over 8 hours in a workday | 1.5× |
| Over 40 hours in a workweek | 1.5× |
| Over 12 hours in a workday | 2× |
| First 8 hours on the 7th consecutive workday | 1.5× |
| Over 8 hours on the 7th consecutive workday | 2× |
Each hour is paid once, at the highest rate that applies. The calculator takes double time first, then daily overtime, and only then applies the 40-hour weekly rule to the straight-time hours that are left, so nothing is counted twice.
Worked Examples at $20/hour
| Week | Total | Regular | OT 1.5× | DT 2× | Pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Five 10-hour days | 50 | 40 | 10 | 0 | $1,100.00 |
| Six 8-hour days | 48 | 40 | 8 | 0 | $1,040.00 |
| One 14-hour day + three 8-hour days | 38 | 32 | 4 | 2 | $840.00 |
Notice the first two rows. Five 10-hour days and six 8-hour days are similar totals, but the 10-hour days earn overtime every day, while the 8-hour days only reach overtime through the weekly rule. The third row shows how a single 14-hour day splits into 8 regular, 4 overtime, and 2 double-time hours.
The Seventh-Day Rule
If you work all seven days of a workweek, the seventh day has its own rule: the first 8 hours are paid at 1.5× from the first hour, and anything beyond 8 is double time. This calculator does not apply the seventh-day rule automatically, because it depends on how your employer defines the workweek. If it applies to you, treat that day's first 8 hours as overtime when you check your pay stub.
Alternative Workweek Schedules
A California employer can adopt an alternative workweek, such as four 10-hour days, through a secret-ballot vote of the affected employees. Under a valid schedule, daily overtime starts after the scheduled hours (for example, after 10) rather than after 8. If your employer uses one, set Daily Overtime After to your scheduled daily hours.
Meal and Rest Breaks
California requires a 30-minute meal break for shifts over 5 hours and a second one for shifts over 10 hours, plus a paid 10-minute rest break for roughly every 4 hours worked. Enter unpaid meal breaks in the break column; paid rest breaks stay in your hours. When a required break is missed, California law adds one extra hour of pay per day as a premium, which this calculator does not include.
This is a general summary, not legal advice. Exemptions and industry wage orders apply; see the California Labor Commissioner's overtime FAQ for the full rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is overtime calculated in California?
California counts overtime both daily and weekly. Hours over 8 in a workday and over 40 in a workweek are paid at 1.5 times the regular rate, and hours over 12 in a workday are paid at 2 times. Each hour is paid once, at the highest rate that applies.
When does California require double time?
For hours over 12 in a single workday, and for hours over 8 on the seventh consecutive day of work in a workweek.
Does this calculator handle the seventh-day rule?
Not automatically. If you work all seven days of a workweek, the first 8 hours on the seventh day are overtime at 1.5× and anything beyond 8 is double time. Account for that day by hand when you check your pay stub.
Do four 10-hour days get overtime in California?
Yes, unless your employer has a valid alternative workweek schedule adopted by a secret-ballot vote of employees. Without one, each 10-hour day includes 2 hours of daily overtime, so four 10-hour days are 32 regular and 8 overtime hours.
Do meal breaks count as hours worked?
An unpaid 30-minute meal break, where you are relieved of all duty, does not count, so enter it in the break column. Paid 10-minute rest breaks do count and should stay in your hours.
More Free Time Tools
- Overtime Calculator - for federal and other states' weekly rules.
- What Is Time and a Half? - state-by-state rules and how bonuses change your rate.
- 7-Minute Rule Calculator - check how time clock rounding affects your punches.