Guides To Counting Work Hours And Pay
Plain explanations of how hours, overtime and pay are worked out, with worked examples and a link to the official source for every rule.
The guides cover the method first, then the rules. Each one links to the calculator that does the arithmetic for you.
Where a guide states a rule, it shows the source and the date it was checked. Rules change, and your contract can give you more than the legal minimum.
How Hours Are Counted
Rules And Comparisons
- How Many Hours Is Part TimeWhere the line sits in the US, UK, Canada and Australia, with yearly hours.
- Overtime Rules By State And CountryFederal and state rules, daily overtime, Canada, the UK and Australia.
- How Many Hours Is Full TimeWhat the US, UK, Canada and Australia say, with yearly hours.
- Working Hours By CountryAverage annual hours from the OECD, with the longest and shortest.
- Working Hours In A YearWork days, work weeks and hours in a year, with leave taken off.
Templates
Questions People Ask
Where do the rules come from?
Each rule links to an official government page, such as the US Department of Labor, GOV.UK, Canada.ca or the Fair Work Ombudsman. We also show the date we last checked it.
Are the guides legal advice?
No. They explain the general rules in plain language. For a specific problem, ask your employer, a labour office or a qualified advisor.
Do the guides cover places outside the US?
Yes. The overtime, full time and hours worked guides include the UK, Canada and Australia, and the country guide compares many more.
Updated November 1, 2026.