Police overtime calculator for officers and staff
Estimate your gross and take-home overtime under Police Regulations 2003 (regs 25 and 26) and PSC rules: casual overtime, rest day working, public holiday double time and part-time plain time.
- 1.0x plain time
- 1.33x casual
- 1.5x rest day
- 2.0x public holiday
Independent site. The sums run in your browser and the figures you enter are not stored. How overtime is worked out
Enter your pay and hours to see your overtime
Edit details- Overtime pay (gross)
- £0.00
- Before tax
- Estimated take-home
- £0.00
- After tax and NI
- Effective rate
- £0.00
- Per overtime hour
- Tax band used
- Not set
- Tax band used
Your result appears here
Add your salary (or hourly rate) and the hours you worked, choose the overtime type, then press Calculate overtime pay.
How police overtime is worked out
The rules behind the figures above, in plain English.
How is police officer and staff overtime calculated in 2026?
For Police Officers, overtime is governed by Regulations 25 and 26 of the Police Regulations 2003 (and the Secretary of State's determinations). For Police Staff, it is governed by the Police Staff Council (PSC). Hourly rates are derived by dividing annual salary by 52.143 weeks, then by weekly hours (usually 40 for officers, 37 for staff). Premium multipliers are 1.33x for casual overtime, 1.5x for short-notice rest day working, and 2.0x for public holidays. Part-time workers are paid at Plain Time (1.0x) for additional hours up to the full-time threshold.
Police overtime rates explained (Regulations 25 and 26)
| Type | Multiplier | When it applies | Key rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plain Time / Part-Time | 1.00x | Extra hours under FT limit | Applies until 37/40hrs reached |
| Casual OT | 1.33x | End of shift overrun | Unpaid 30-min buffer applies |
| Rest Day / Staff OT | 1.50x | Short notice / PSC Premium | Minimum 4-hour claim usually applies |
| Public Holiday | 2.00x | Bank holiday | Day in lieu entitlement dependent on notice |
Police officer and staff overtime rules explained
Overtime rules depend on your role (Regs 25 and 26 for Officers vs. PSC Handbook for Staff) and your contracted hours.
- 1.0x (Plain Time): For part-time workers completing additional hours up to the full-time weekly equivalent (37 for staff, 40 for officers).
- 1.33x: Standard casual extension rate (often requires a 30-min unpaid buffer for officers).
- 1.50x: For rest day working with short notice, or standard premium rate for Staff.
- 2.00x: For public holidays.
Formula: Hourly Rate × Hours Worked × Multiplier
What is the double time rule for police?
Working on a public holiday typically attracts double time (2.0x). If recalled to duty on a rest day with short notice (under 15 days), payment is usually 1.5x. With longer notice, you may receive a day in lieu instead rather than immediate financial compensation.
Why does overtime feel heavily taxed?
- Overtime is taxed at your marginal rate (your highest tax band), which can take up to 45% of the gross value.
- National Insurance is still calculated on this total monthly income.
- Any outstanding Student Loan deductions apply as well.
About this calculator
- Overtime rates for officers are based on the Police Regulations 2003; for staff, on the Police Staff Council handbook. Your force's local agreements can differ.
- Tax uses one rate for all of the overtime: your band in England and Wales (20%, 40% or 45%) or Scotland, with National Insurance at 8% (2% in the higher bands).
- The sums run in your browser. The figures you type are not stored.
- It is an estimate, not payroll or financial advice. Your payslip is the final word.
Common questions
How is police overtime calculated?
Your overtime involves deriving an hourly rate from your annual salary divided by your total weekly hours (usually 40). This baseline rate is then multiplied depending on the type of overtime—1.33x for casual end-of-shift overtime, 1.5x for rest day working at short notice, and 2.0x for public holidays.
Is police overtime pensionable?
No, police overtime is entirely non-pensionable in the standard police pension schemes (1987, 2006, 2015 CARE). This means you do not pay pension contributions on your overtime earnings, maximising your take-home pay on these hours.
Do Inspectors receive overtime?
Ranks of Inspector and above generally do not receive standard authorized overtime pay. They are salaried and expected to work the hours required to fulfill their role. However, there are limited exceptions for extraordinary deployments or specific operational demands approved at a high executive level.
See how every rank compares → What is the minimum overtime claim?
In many forces, casual overtime at the end of a shift only kicks in after you have worked an unpaid initial 30 minutes, meaning you cannot claim for trivial overruns. However, if you are recalled to duty on a Bank Holiday or Rest Day, there is usually a minimum guaranteed payment of 4 hours at the applicable rate.
Is overtime taxed differently?
No, overtime is not taxed via a 'special rate'. However, because your personal tax-free allowance is already consumed by your base salary, every pound of overtime is taxed completely at your highest marginal rate (e.g., 20%, 40%, or 45%).
What happens if a rest day is cancelled with more than 15 days’ notice?
If a rest day is cancelled and you receive 15 or more days’ notice, you will usually only be entitled to a rest day in lieu (a substitute day off), rather than the 1.5x rest day working compensation rate.
Is public holiday pay always double time?
Generally, yes. Working on a rostered public bank holiday attracts compensation at double time (2.0x). If you were required to work with less than 8 days' notice, specific compensation rules further enhance your allowances.
Does Scotland use different tax bands?
Yes, Police Scotland officers face a different taxation framework set by the Scottish Government, with different marginal bands (Starter, Basic, Intermediate, Higher, Advanced, Top). Our calculator has a regional toggle to accommodate Scottish income tax banding.
How do I calculate my hourly rate?
Divide your gross annual salary by 52.143 (weeks in a year) and then divide that by your weekly hours (usually 40). Our calculator includes an automatic helper to determine this for you.
Can overtime push me into a higher tax band?
Yes. If your base salary is near a tax threshold (e.g. £50,270 for the 40% band in England), a substantial overtime claim can push your total earnings into the higher band, meaning those specific overflow amounts are taxed heavily at 40%.