How Many Hours Is Full Time?
Most employers call 35 to 40 hours a week full time, but the law rarely sets one number. This guide shows what each country says and how the hours add up over a year.
The Short Answer
There is no single legal definition in most places. Full time is usually set by your employer, your contract or a rule for one purpose, such as health insurance.
In practice, 40 hours a week is the common full time standard in North America. In the UK many contracts use 35 to 40 hours, and Australia caps the full time week at 38.
Always check your contract. It decides your benefits, your leave and in some cases your overtime.
Full Time In The United States
US federal wage law does not say how many hours make a job full time. The 40 hour week matters only because it is the point where overtime starts for covered workers.
For health insurance, the Affordable Care Act uses a lower line, which the source below states.
For the health care mandate, the IRS counts an average of 30 hours a week, or 130 hours a month, as full time. Source: IRS, Employer Shared Responsibility. Checked November 2026.
The overtime line is explained in the overtime rules guide.
Full Time In The United Kingdom
The UK has no fixed definition either. Many employers use 35 to 40 hours as full time, and the contract states the exact number.
The law sets a ceiling instead. The 48 hour average limit applies to most workers, and you can opt out of it in writing.
Most UK workers cannot work more than 48 hours a week on average, normally over 17 weeks, unless they choose to opt out. Source: GOV.UK, maximum weekly working hours. Checked November 2026.
Full Time In Canada
In Canada, hours rules are set mainly by each province. For employers regulated by the federal government, the Canada Labour Code sets the standard.
Provincial rules differ on the weekly hours where overtime starts. Check the labour standards office for your province.
The Canada Labour Code sets a standard work week of 40 hours for federally regulated employers. Provinces set their own rules. Source: Canada.ca, hours of work. Checked November 2026.
Full Time In Australia
Australia is the clearest of the four. The National Employment Standards cap the ordinary week at 38 hours for a full-time employee.
You can work reasonable additional hours. What is reasonable depends on your health, your family duties and the pay, among other things.
The National Employment Standards set maximum weekly hours of 38 for a full-time employee, plus reasonable additional hours. Source: Fair Work Ombudsman, maximum weekly hours. Checked November 2026.
How Full Time Adds Up Over A Year
A year has 52 weeks, so weekly hours multiply into a yearly total. Divide by 12 for a monthly average, which is why monthly pay slips often show about 173 hours for a 40 hour week.
| Hours a week | Hours a year | Average hours a month |
|---|---|---|
| 30 hours | 1,560 | 130.0 |
| 35 hours | 1,820 | 151.7 |
| 37.5 hours | 1,950 | 162.5 |
| 38 hours | 1,976 | 164.7 |
| 40 hours | 2,080 | 173.3 |
A 40 hour week is 2,080 hours over 52 weeks. Paid leave and holidays come out of that total, so the hours you actually work are lower.
Part Time Hours And Pay
Part time usually means fewer hours than the full time standard at your employer, so there is no single number of hours a week. Pay per hour is normally the same, and benefits may depend on the hours.
In the US, the health insurance rule above treats under 30 hours a week as not full time. In the UK and Australia, your contract states your part time hours.
To compare jobs, turn each one into an hourly rate. A 37.5 hour week is 37.50 hours, or 37:30 a week, and a 40 hour week is 40:00.
To turn a salary into an hourly rate, use the salary to hourly calculator.
Common Questions About Full Time
- Is 32 hours full time? Usually not, unless your employer says so. It can still count for health insurance in the US.
- Is 35 hours full time? In many UK and some US workplaces, yes.
- Is 30 hours full time? Only for the US health insurance rule.
- Does full time include lunch? Only if your employer counts the break as paid.
Questions People Ask
How many hours is full time in the US?
There is no federal definition. Employers commonly use 40 hours. For the health care mandate the IRS treats 30 hours a week as full time.
How many hours is full time in the UK?
There is no legal definition. Employers often use 35 to 40 hours, and the working time rules cap the average week at 48 hours unless you opt out.
How many hours is full time in Canada?
Federally regulated employers use a standard 40 hour week. Provincial employers follow their own rules.
How many hours is full time in Australia?
The ordinary maximum for a full-time employee is 38 hours a week, plus reasonable additional hours.
How many hours a week is part time?
There is no legal number. Part time means fewer hours than full time at your employer, so it is under 40 at most US jobs and under 38 in Australia. Your contract states your hours.
How many hours a year is full time?
At 40 hours a week it is 2,080 hours over 52 weeks, or about 173.3 hours a month.
Sources
- IRS, Employer Shared Responsibility
- GOV.UK, maximum weekly working hours
- Canada.ca, hours of work
- Fair Work Ombudsman, maximum weekly hours
Written and checked by the countmyworkhours.com team. How we calculate