Free tool
California Overtime Calculator
Estimate your overtime under California law. Enter your hourly rate, the hours you worked each day, and any bonus, and this calculator applies California’s daily, weekly, double-time, and regular-rate rules. Enter what your paycheck actually showed to see whether you were shorted.
Reviewed by Justin Silverman, California employment attorney (State Bar #292036). Current for 2026.
Hours worked each day
Optional. A nondiscretionary flat bonus (attendance, shift, set weekly bonus) raises your overtime rate under California law.
Optional. Enter the gross pay (before taxes) you actually received for this week to see any shortfall.
What you should have earned
$800.00
- Regular (40 hrs)
- $800.00
- Overtime 1.5x (0 hrs)
- $0.00
- Double time 2x (0 hrs)
- $0.00
- Total hours
- 40 hrs
This calculator gives a general estimate using California’s daily and weekly overtime rules and the flat-sum bonus method from Alvarado v. Dart Container. It does not account for production or percentage bonuses (calculated differently), alternative workweek schedules, or exemptions, and it is not legal or financial advice. Your actual overtime depends on your specific circumstances.
How is overtime calculated in California?
California has daily overtime, not just weekly, which makes it more protective than federal law. You earn one and a half times your regular rate for hours over 8 in a workday or over 40 in a workweek, and double time for hours over 12 in a day. On a 7th consecutive day of work in the same week, the first 8 hours are paid at 1.5x and hours beyond 8 at 2x.
| When you work... | Overtime rate |
|---|---|
| Over 8 hours in a day, or over 40 in a week | 1.5x your regular rate |
| Over 12 hours in a single day | 2x your regular rate |
| First 8 hours on a 7th consecutive workday | 1.5x your regular rate |
| Beyond 8 hours on a 7th consecutive workday | 2x your regular rate |
Do bonuses change your overtime rate?
Yes. Overtime is paid on your regular rate, not just your base hourly wage, and your regular rate includes nondiscretionary pay like flat bonuses, commissions, and shift differentials. Leaving these out is one of the most common ways employers underpay overtime.
California uses an employee-friendly method for a flat-sum bonus. Under Alvarado v. Dart Container (2018), the bonus is divided by your non-overtime hours, not by all hours worked, and overtime on the bonus is paid at 1.5x rather than the 0.5x the federal rules allow. Enter a bonus in the calculator above and it applies this method.
Signs you may be owed unpaid overtime
Many workers are owed overtime they never received. Watch for these common situations, each of which can mean the number above understates what you are actually owed.
- Your employer only pays overtime after 40 weekly hours and ignores the daily 8-hour rule.
- Your overtime was calculated on your base wage alone, leaving out nondiscretionary bonuses or commissions.
- You are paid a salary or as a 1099 contractor but do the same work as hourly employees.
- You work through breaks or off the clock before or after shifts.
For the full picture of your pay rights, read our guide to unpaid wages and overtime in California.
This tool estimates a single week. If you were underpaid for months, use the back pay calculator to project the total across the whole period.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is overtime calculated in California?
California uses daily and weekly overtime. You earn 1.5 times your regular rate for hours over 8 in a workday or over 40 in a workweek, and 2 times your rate for hours over 12 in a day. On a 7th consecutive workday, the first 8 hours are paid at 1.5x and hours beyond 8 at 2x. This is more generous than federal law, which only counts weekly hours over 40.
Is overtime after 8 hours or 40 hours in California?
Both. California has daily overtime, so you earn time and a half after 8 hours in a single day, and also after 40 hours in a week. You do not have to pass 40 weekly hours to earn overtime if you worked long individual days.
When does double time apply in California?
Double time (2x your regular rate) applies to hours worked over 12 in a single workday, and to hours worked beyond 8 on a 7th consecutive day of work in the same workweek.
Does my regular rate include bonuses for overtime?
Often yes. Your regular rate for overtime can include nondiscretionary bonuses, commissions, and shift differentials, not just your base hourly wage. For a flat-sum bonus, California (Alvarado v. Dart Container) divides the bonus by your non-overtime hours and applies a 1.5x multiplier, which is more generous than the federal method. Enter your bonus above and this calculator adds that overtime. Production or percentage bonuses are figured differently, so your true overtime may be higher still.
How far back can I recover unpaid overtime in California?
Generally up to three years for the unpaid wages under the Labor Code, and up to four years when the claim is brought under California's Unfair Competition Law. Because overtime is often underpaid every week, the total can be substantial. The clock is running, so it is worth acting sooner rather than later.
What if I am salaried or paid as a contractor?
You may still be owed overtime. Being salaried does not automatically make you exempt, and being labeled an independent contractor does not make the overtime laws disappear. Misclassified workers are frequently owed unpaid overtime, breaks, and reimbursements.
Is this calculator legal advice?
No. It is a general estimate based on California's overtime rules and does not account for every variable, such as production bonuses, alternative workweek schedules, or exemptions. For an assessment of what you may actually be owed, talk to a lawyer.
Think you're owed money? Get a free case review.
Think you were not paid the overtime you earned? This calculator is a starting point, not a final answer. A consultation with our office is free, and we can look at your actual pay records.
Prefer to talk? Call 818-585-1267Wage & hour help
This page and calculator are general information, not legal advice, and do not create an attorney-client relationship.