Reviewed for UK readers: November 2026.
If you start a job part way through the leave year, you do not get the full year’s holiday at once. Your entitlement builds up over the months you work. Enter your start date and leave year to see how much holiday you get for the rest of the year.
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Quick answer
- Regular-hours workers build up one twelfth of their annual holiday at the start of each month.
- On 28 days a year, that is 7 days after three months.
- Starting mid-month still counts the month. Starting on 13 January on 28 days gives 2.5 days for January (rounded up to the nearest half day).
- Irregular-hours and part-year workers build up 12.07% of the hours they work instead.
How holiday builds up in your first year
GOV.UK says workers with regular hours can build up one twelfth of their statutory holiday at the start of each month in their first year. The month you start counts from your first day. Someone on 28 days who has worked three months has built up 7 days (28 ÷ 12 × 3). An employer can instead work out the first month by the days you actually worked.
The calculator shows both methods side by side, because your contract decides which one applies. The monthly method is rounded up to the nearest half day, which is how employers usually record leave.
Holiday by start month (calendar leave year)
This table assumes a leave year from 1 January to 31 December and the monthly method. The first figure is the exact amount, followed by the amount rounded up to the nearest half day. The 16.8-day column is a three-day week on the statutory minimum.
| Start month | Months left | 28 days a year | 16.8 days a year (3-day week) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12 of 12 | 28 → 28 | 16.8 → 17 |
| February | 11 of 12 | 25.67 → 26 | 15.4 → 15.5 |
| March | 10 of 12 | 23.33 → 23.5 | 14 → 14 |
| April | 9 of 12 | 21 → 21 | 12.6 → 13 |
| May | 8 of 12 | 18.67 → 19 | 11.2 → 11.5 |
| June | 7 of 12 | 16.33 → 16.5 | 9.8 → 10 |
| July | 6 of 12 | 14 → 14 | 8.4 → 8.5 |
| August | 5 of 12 | 11.67 → 12 | 7 → 7 |
| September | 4 of 12 | 9.33 → 9.5 | 5.6 → 6 |
| October | 3 of 12 | 7 → 7 | 4.2 → 4.5 |
| November | 2 of 12 | 4.67 → 5 | 2.8 → 3 |
| December | 1 of 12 | 2.33 → 2.5 | 1.4 → 1.5 |
Worked examples
Starting on 1 April on 28 days
April to December is 9 months, so 28 × 9 ÷ 12 = 21 days.
Starting on 1 July on a three-day week
The statutory minimum for three days a week is 16.8 days. Six months remain, so 16.8 × 6 ÷ 12 = 8.4 days. At 7.5 hours a day that is 63 hours.
Starting on 20 September when the leave year starts on 1 April
September is the sixth month of an April to March leave year, so seven months remain including September. On 28 days, 28 × 7 ÷ 12 = 16.33 days, rounded up to 16.5.
If your leave year does not start on 1 January
Many employers use an April to March year, or the anniversary of your start date. Your contract says which. Enter the leave year start date in the calculator and it counts the months from there.
Irregular hours and part-year workers
If your hours change from week to week, or you only work part of the year, holiday builds up at 12.07% of the hours you work, including in your first year. For example, 30 hours worked builds up 3.621 hours. Use the irregular hours holiday pay calculator for this.
Can I take holiday before I have built it up?
Your employer can allow it, but they decide. If you leave having taken more than you built up, GOV.UK says the employer can only take the difference from your final pay if you agreed to that in writing beforehand. See the accrued holiday pay calculator for leavers for what happens when you leave.
Salary when you start mid-year
Holiday is separate from pay. For how your salary is pro-rated when you join part way through a month or year, read our guide to pro rata pay for mid-year starters.
Frequently asked questions
How much holiday do I get if I start mid-year?
You get a share of your full-year holiday based on the months left in the leave year. On 28 days, starting on 1 April gives 21 days. The calculator above works it out for your dates.
Do I get 28 days if I start in July?
No. A full-time starter on 28 days gets about 14 days for July to December on the monthly method (28 × 6 ÷ 12).
How is holiday worked out if I start mid-month?
Under the monthly method the month you start counts in full, with the first twelfth building up from your first day. Some employers instead work out the first month by days worked. Your contract says which.
Can I take holiday in my first month?
Only if your employer agrees. Holiday builds up over time, so you may have little available early on.
How is holiday worked out for a part-time starter?
Work out the full-year entitlement for your pattern first, for example 16.8 days for three days a week, then take the share for the months left.
What if my leave year runs April to March?
Set the leave year start date to 1 April in the calculator. It counts the months from your start date to the end of that leave year.
More holiday calculators
- How to calculate holiday entitlement for part-time workers – the step-by-step formula
- Pro rata holiday entitlement calculator – days and hours for any part-time pattern
- 5.6 weeks holiday entitlement calculator – turn 5.6 weeks into days and hours
- Annual leave calculator in hours – holiday in hours for 10 to 40 hour weeks
- Holiday entitlement for 2, 3 or 4 days a week – tables and worked examples
- Pro rata bank holidays calculator – which bank holidays fall on your working days
- Zero-hours holiday pay calculator – 12.07% accrual and rolled-up pay
- Irregular hours holiday pay calculator – 12.07% for irregular and part-year workers
- Accrued holiday pay calculator for leavers – what you are owed when you leave