California overtime calculator (one day)
Type one day's start, end and break. HoursPad splits the day using the daily thresholds in California's Labor Code. It does not add up the week.
Not legal, tax or payroll advice. General information only; results are estimates. Read the full notice.
Type a start time and an end time.
Estimate based on what you entered. Not legal or payroll advice; check it against your employer's records.
This tool works on one day only. It does not add up the week, so it does not work out weekly overtime.
Example: 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM with a 30-minute unpaid break is 12 h 30 min (12.50 hours). Applying only the daily thresholds quoted below, HoursPad estimates 8 h at the regular rate, 4 h at 1.5 times and 30 min at 2 times.
Estimate based on what you entered. Not legal or payroll advice; check it against your employer's records.
How to use it
- Type the Start time and End time of one workday.
- Type the unpaid break in minutes in "Unpaid break (minutes)", if any.
- Optional: type a rate in "Hourly rate in dollars (optional)" to see an estimate of pay before taxes for that day.
- Read the split between regular time, time at 1.5 times and time at double, under the boxes.
What the California sources say
- California Labor Code section 510(a) sets overtime at no less than 1.5 times the regular rate for work over 8 hours in a workday, over 40 hours in a workweek, and the first 8 hours on the seventh day of work in a workweek.
- Section 510(a) also sets no less than twice the regular rate for work over 12 hours in a day and over 8 hours on the seventh day of a workweek.
Labor Code section 510(a) also says: “Nothing in this section requires an employer to combine more than one rate of overtime compensation in order to calculate the amount to be paid to an employee for any hour of overtime work.”
What this tool leaves out
HoursPad could not confirm from an official source how California's daily and weekly overtime are combined when both apply, so this page never adds up a week. It also does not decide whether an exemption applies to a job. The seventh-day rule, exemptions and industry rules are in the sources listed below; the California Labor Commissioner's office can confirm what applies to a job.
Meal and rest breaks in California, according to the U.S. Department of Labor
The U.S. Department of Labor publishes tables of state meal period and rest period requirements. Both are dated January 1, 2023 on its site. Here is what they say for California, in the table's own words. Your employer or the California labor department can confirm what applies to a job today.
- Meal period table: “½ hour, if work is for more than 5 hours per day, except when workday will be completed in 6 hours or less and there is mutual employer/employee consent to waive meal period.”
- Rest period table: “Paid 10-minute rest period for each 4 hours worked or major fraction thereof; as practicable, in middle of each work period.”
Questions
Does this work out my whole week?
No. It looks at one day at a time. How a day's overtime combines with the week's total is not something HoursPad has an official source for, so it does not add the week up.
Where do the two daily numbers come from?
From California Labor Code section 510(a) and the Labor Commissioner's overtime FAQ. Both are quoted on this page with links. The tool uses 8 hours for the first line and 12 hours for the second.
Does it count the seventh day of a workweek?
No. The sources quoted below describe a rule for the seventh day of work in a workweek, but this tool only works on a single day and does not know about the rest of the week.
Is the result a pay calculation?
No. It is an estimate from the times you type. Your employer or the California Labor Commissioner's office can confirm what applies to a job.
Official sources
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California Labor Code § 510(a) (opens in new tab), California Legislature (California Legislative Information).
“Any work in excess of eight hours in one workday and any work in excess of 40 hours in any one workweek and the first eight hours worked on the seventh day of work in any one workweek shall be compensated at the rate of no less than one and one-half times the regular rate of pay for an employee. Any work in excess of 12 hours in one day shall be compensated at the rate of no less than twice the regular rate of pay for an employee. In addition, any work in excess of eight hours on any seventh day of a workweek shall be compensated at the rate of no less than twice the regular rate of pay of an employee.”
Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source. -
California Labor Code § 510(a) (opens in new tab), California Legislature (California Legislative Information).
“Nothing in this section requires an employer to combine more than one rate of overtime compensation in order to calculate the amount to be paid to an employee for any hour of overtime work.”
Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source. -
Overtime (DLSE frequently asked questions) (opens in new tab), California Department of Industrial Relations, Labor Commissioner's Office (DLSE).
“shall not be employed more than eight hours in any workday or more than 40 hours in any workweek unless he or she receives one and one-half times his or her regular rate of pay for all hours worked over eight hours in any workday and over 40 hours in the workweek (or double time as specified below).”
Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source. -
Overtime (DLSE frequently asked questions) (opens in new tab), California Department of Industrial Relations, Labor Commissioner's Office (DLSE).
“One and one-half times the employee's regular rate of pay for all hours worked in excess of eight hours up to and including 12 hours in any workday, and for the first eight hours worked on the seventh consecutive day of work in a workweek; and”
Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source. -
Overtime (DLSE frequently asked questions) (opens in new tab), California Department of Industrial Relations, Labor Commissioner's Office (DLSE).
“Double the employee's regular rate of pay for all hours worked in excess of 12 hours in any workday and for all hours worked in excess of eight on the seventh consecutive day of work in a workweek.”
Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source. -
California: Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (table dated January 1, 2023) (opens in new tab), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.
“½ hour, if work is for more than 5 hours per day, except when workday will be completed in 6 hours or less and there is mutual employer/employee consent to waive meal period.”
Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source. -
California: Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (table dated January 1, 2023) (opens in new tab), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division.
“Paid 10-minute rest period for each 4 hours worked or major fraction thereof; as practicable, in middle of each work period.”
Checked November 11, 2026. Rules change; verify with the source.
These are summaries of what the official sources say, not legal advice. Laws change and exceptions apply. Check with your employer or your state labor department about your own job.