Holiday entitlement for regular part-time working patterns

Understand what a simple full-year estimate covers and when to use a different method.

A regular-days example

For a worker on regular hours throughout the leave year, a three-day week gives a statutory minimum of 16.8 days: 3 × 5.6. Statutory entitlement is capped at 28 days. A contract can provide more leave.

Check bank holidays and the contract

Bank holidays can be included in statutory entitlement. Check the contract and working pattern before deciding how they affect a particular worker’s balance.

Use the right method for other patterns

Irregular-hours and part-year workers accrue leave based on hours worked. Starters, leavers and changes in working pattern need a more specific calculation. Use the linked GOV.UK calculator for those circumstances.

Source: GOV.UK holiday entitlement guidance. Checked 21 October 2026.