By PaySlipCheck Editorial
· Reviewed by PaySlipCheck Editorial Standards Team
· 14 June 2026
· 5 min read
UK statutory holiday entitlement is 5.6 weeks per year — 28 days for a full-time 5-day-a-week worker, pro-rated for part-time patterns. Many employers offer more than statutory: 25-30 days plus 8 bank holidays is common for professional roles, and public sector or senior contracts often add days for length of service. Bank holidays have no automatic statutory right attached to them — whether you get them off, and whether they count within or on top of your annual entitlement, depends entirely on your contract. This guide shows how to calculate your entitlement based on days worked, mid-year starters + leavers + how bank holidays typically fit in.
Verified against 2 official sources · Last reviewed 14 June 2026
Days worked/week × 5.6 = statutory annual entitlement
1 day/week: 5.6 days
2 days/week: 11.2 days
3 days/week: 16.8 days
4 days/week: 22.4 days
5 days/week: 28 days (statutory maximum for FT)
Mid-year starter
Days remaining in year × (statutory entitlement / 365) = holiday entitlement
Example: Start on 1 July, full-time = 184 days / 365 × 28 = 14.1 days for rest of year.
By hours worked (irregular schedules)
Post-April 2024:
- Hours worked × 12.07% = holiday hours accrued
- Example: 200 hours in April = 24 hours holiday
Common contractual add-ons
Above statutory 28 days, typical UK employer offers:
- 25 days + 8 bank holidays = 33 days total
- 27 days + 8 bank holidays = 35 days total (better packages)
- 30 days + 8 bank holidays = 38 days total (public sector, some senior roles)
Senior roles often include additional days by service tenure (+1 day per year up to +5).
Bank holidays 2026 (UK)
1 Jan: New Year's Day
3 Apr: Good Friday
6 Apr: Easter Monday
4 May: May bank holiday
25 May: Spring bank holiday
31 Aug: Summer bank holiday
25 Dec: Christmas Day
28 Dec: Boxing Day (substitute)
Scotland + NI have different bank holiday sets.
In short
Statutory: days/week × 5.6. Mid-year: pro-rata by days remaining. Full-time typically 28 days statutory; many employers offer 5-10 more.
Frequently asked questions
What's the maximum statutory holiday?
5.6 weeks = 28 days for full-time 5-day worker. Above this is discretionary/contractual.
Do I get holiday during first year?
Yes — accrues from day 1. Employer may restrict when it can be taken in first 3 months but must accrue.
What if I work 6 days a week?
Still 5.6 weeks = 33.6 days (capped at 28 statutory ceiling).
How do I calculate holiday for a leaver?
(Days entitled × months served / 12) - days already taken × daily rate = holiday pay owed.
Can I carry unused holiday over?
Statutory 4 weeks (EU) cannot; UK-added 1.6 weeks can with agreement. Contractual above statutory: employer's rules.
UK monthly budget planner — A workable UK monthly budget planner: confirm your real net pay, list fixed essentials, list variable essentials, set a discretionary cap, set a savings target. Total must equal net pay. Use 50/30/20 as a starting guide, adapt for your housing situation.
More on related topics
Attachment of earnings — AEO = court order requiring employer to deduct debt from wages. Protected earnings threshold applies.
Auto-enrolment duties — Auto-enrolment = employer duty since 2012. 8% total minimum. Re-enrolment every 3 years.
Bank holidays — No statutory right to bank holiday off. Contract decides. 2026 UK has 8 bank holidays.
All tax figures on this page use the same configuration that powers our
calculators — see our
editorial standards for the review process.
Last reviewed: 14 June 2026.
Next review due 14 December 2026.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information based on published HMRC and gov.scot figures. It is not personal tax or financial advice. For your specific situation, please consult a qualified accountant or contact HMRC directly.