Quick answer
- Calculate entitlement earned up to the leaving date.
- Subtract holiday already taken.
- Untaken statutory leave is paid when employment ends.
- Check written terms before any deduction for excess leave taken.
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Step 1: calculate leave earned
For regular-hours workers, a simple estimate can pro rate the annual entitlement by the proportion of the leave year completed. The official GOV.UK holiday calculator is preferable where dates, working patterns or irregular hours make the calculation more complex.Step 2: subtract leave taken
Compare accrued entitlement with the amount already used. If entitlement accrued is 15 days and 11 days have been taken, four days remain. Those four days may be taken during notice if agreed or paid in lieu at termination.Payment in lieu
Statutory leave generally cannot be replaced by cash during ongoing employment, but GOV.UK confirms that payment in lieu is allowed when the worker leaves. Untaken statutory leave must be paid even where employment ends after dismissal for gross misconduct.If too much holiday has been taken
An employer cannot simply deduct excess holiday from final pay unless that deduction was agreed in writing beforehand, for example in the employment contract. Review the written terms before accepting a deduction.Check extra contractual leave
Employers can set separate rules for leave above the statutory minimum. Final-pay treatment of that extra entitlement should be checked in the contract or policy.Worked example: leaving on 30 June
Full-year entitlement is 28 days. The leave year runs from 1 January to 31 December 2026 and your last day is 30 June. That is 181 of 365 days, so you have built up 28 × 181 ÷ 365 = 13.88 days. If you have taken 5 days, 8.88 days are still owed. On a full-time salary of £26,000 over a five-day week, one day is £26,000 ÷ 260 = £100, so the payment is £888.49.
Worked example: three-day week leaving on 30 September
The statutory minimum for three days a week is 16.8 days. By 30 September, 273 of 365 days have passed, so you have built up 16.8 × 273 ÷ 365 = 12.57 days. With 8 days taken, 4.57 days are owed. If you are paid £15,600 a year for three days a week, one day is £15,600 ÷ (52 × 3) = £100, so the payment is £456.55.
Holiday built up by leaving month
This table assumes a leave year from 1 January to 31 December 2026 and a leaving date at the end of each month. It uses calendar days. Subtract any holiday you have already taken.
| Last day in | Days of the year passed | 28 days a year | 16.8 days a year (3-day week) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 of 365 | 2.38 | 1.43 |
| February | 59 of 365 | 4.53 | 2.72 |
| March | 90 of 365 | 6.9 | 4.14 |
| April | 120 of 365 | 9.21 | 5.52 |
| May | 151 of 365 | 11.58 | 6.95 |
| June | 181 of 365 | 13.88 | 8.33 |
| July | 212 of 365 | 16.26 | 9.76 |
| August | 243 of 365 | 18.64 | 11.18 |
| September | 273 of 365 | 20.94 | 12.57 |
| October | 304 of 365 | 23.32 | 13.99 |
| November | 334 of 365 | 25.62 | 15.37 |
| December | 365 of 365 | 28 | 16.8 |
If your leave year does not start on 1 January
Many employers use April to March or an anniversary year. Put your own leave year start date into the calculator and it counts the days from there.
Irregular-hours and part-year leavers
If you worked irregular hours or only part of the year, holiday builds up at 12.07% of the hours you worked. Subtract the hours you took, and you are owed the rest. Use the irregular hours holiday pay calculator. If your employer already paid rolled-up holiday pay with your wages, that holiday has been paid.
How to value one day of holiday
A common approach for a full-time five-day week is annual salary ÷ 260. For part-time staff, use the salary you actually receive ÷ (52 × your working days a week). Your contract and payroll system may use a different method, and pay for holiday can include regular overtime or commission. Our pro rata holiday pay guide covers how holiday pay is worked out.
Before relying on a holiday calculation
Confirm the leave year dates, whether you work regular or irregular hours, whether you work only part of the year, and whether bank holidays sit inside or outside the stated allowance. These details can change the correct statutory or contractual method. Where employment starts or ends part way through a leave year, or the pattern is irregular, use the current GOV.UK holiday calculator as a cross-check. Keep the employer’s written holiday policy because contractual leave above the statutory minimum can follow separate rules.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
- Mid-year starter holiday calculator – holiday in your first year
To turn holiday days into money, use the pro rata salary calculator to find your daily rate.
Frequently asked questions
Do I get paid for unused holiday when I leave?
Yes, untaken statutory holiday must be paid when employment ends.Can I take holiday during my notice period?
You may be able to take remaining leave during notice, subject to the usual request and employer rules.Can my employer deduct holiday I took but had not earned?
Only where a deduction has been agreed beforehand in writing, according to GOV.UK guidance.How do I calculate leave if I leave mid-year?
Use the proportion of the leave year worked for a regular pattern, or the official GOV.UK holiday calculator for a more exact result.How do you calculate accrued holiday pay when leaving a job?
Work out the share of the leave year you have worked, multiply it by your full-year holiday, subtract the days you have taken, then multiply what is left by one day of pay. The calculator above does all four steps.
Is accrued holiday paid in my final pay?
Untaken statutory holiday has to be paid when your job ends, and it is normally included in your final pay. Check your payslip for a line showing the days paid.
What if I have taken more holiday than I have accrued?
Your employer can only take the difference from your final pay if you agreed that in writing beforehand.