Calculator / Compressed Hours
Compressed Hours Holiday Entitlement Calculator UK 2026
Working a 4-day week or other compressed pattern? Your holiday entitlement looks different but is worth the same in hours. This calculator and guide explain how.
Updated 11 April 2026
Compressed Hours Calculator
Your compressed hours entitlement
22.4 days
201.6 hours
Each day off is 9 hours long (compared to a standard worker's shorter day). You get fewer days off but the same total hours as a 5-day worker.
36 hours x 5.6 weeks = 201.6 hours
Days vs Hours: The Key Confusion
A 4-day week worker doing 36 hours gets 22.4 days off, not 28. That looks like less, but each day off is 9 hours long instead of 7.2. The total hours of holiday are identical: 201.6 hours either way.
This is the single most common source of confusion with compressed hours. Always think in hours first, then convert to days. The statutory entitlement is 5.6 weeks of your normal working pattern, which always translates to the same total hours regardless of how those hours are compressed.
Comparison Table
| Pattern | Weekly hours | Days off | Hours off |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 days x 7.2 hours | 36 | 28 | 201.6 |
| 4 days x 9 hours | 36 | 22.4 | 201.6 |
| 5 days x 7.5 hours | 37.5 | 28 | 210 |
| 4 days x 9.375 hours | 37.5 | 22.4 | 210 |
| 5 days x 8 hours | 40 | 28 | 224 |
| 4 days x 10 hours | 40 | 22.4 | 224 |
Each pair shows identical total hours but different day counts. The 4-day worker gets the same time off.
Worked Examples
36 hours over 4 days (9-hour days)
36 x 5.6 = 201.6 hours = 22.4 days of 9 hours
A 5-day worker doing 36 hours would get 28 days of 7.2-hour days. Same total: 201.6 hours.
37.5 hours over 4 days
37.5 x 5.6 = 210 hours = 22.4 days of 9.375 hours
Common in office environments switching to a 4-day week. The day-count drops but the hours are identical.
40 hours over 4 days (10-hour days)
40 x 5.6 = 224 hours = 22.4 days of 10 hours
Longer days mean each holiday day is worth more hours. You get fewer days off but they are longer.
Bank Holidays on Compressed Hours
If a bank holiday falls on a day you do not work (e.g. you work Tuesday to Friday and the bank holiday is Monday), you should not lose out. Your employer should either give you an alternative day off or credit the equivalent hours to your holiday balance.
Conversely, if a bank holiday falls on one of your longer compressed days (say a 10-hour day), your employer should credit you 10 hours, not the standard 8. The deduction from your entitlement should match the hours you would have worked.
9-Day Fortnight and Other Patterns
Some compressed patterns alternate week by week, such as the 9-day fortnight (5 days one week, 4 the next). For these patterns, calculate your average weekly hours and days over the cycle, then apply the standard formula.
For a 9-day fortnight: average 4.5 days per week, so holiday = 5.6 x 4.5 = 25.2 days. Always verify by checking the hours match what a standard worker would receive.