Annual leave, bank holidays & accrued leave — all four UK nations, updated for 2026
Where do you work?
How do you work?
Part-time workers are entitled to the same 5.6 weeks holiday as full-time workers, but pro-rated to the number of days or hours they work. Your entitlement is calculated proportionally.
Bank holiday options
Bank holidays included in my 28 days allowance
Turn off if your employer gives bank holidays ON TOP of your annual leave
Did you start part-way through the leave year?
Calculate accrued leave from a start date
For new starters or to check how much you've accrued so far
How much leave have you taken?
Calculate remaining leave
Enter days already taken to see what's left
Total entitlement
28
days per year
Personal leave
20
excl. bank holidays
Bank holidays
8
in your nation
Breakdown
Bank holidays in your nation 2026
Important: This calculator provides guidance based on statutory minimum entitlements. Your actual entitlement depends on your employment contract, which may be more generous. There is no automatic legal right to paid leave on bank holidays — always check your contract. Rates are based on current UK employment law for 2026.
All UK workers are entitled to a minimum of 5.6 weeks paid holiday per year — that's 28 days for a full-time worker. This is set by the Working Time Regulations 1998 and applies across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. However, the number of bank holidays varies by nation — England and Wales have 8, Scotland has 9, and Northern Ireland has 10. Your employer can choose to include bank holidays within your 28-day entitlement or give them on top — it depends on your contract. Part-time workers are entitled to the same 5.6 weeks, calculated proportionally to the days or hours they work. Use this free calculator to find your exact entitlement, how much you've accrued as a new starter, and how many days you have left.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much holiday am I entitled to in the UK?
All workers in the UK are entitled to a minimum of 5.6 weeks paid annual leave per year under the Working Time Regulations 1998. For a full-time worker working 5 days a week, this equals 28 days. This is the statutory minimum — your employer may offer more in your contract, but cannot offer less. The 28 days can include bank holidays, or your employer may give bank holidays on top — it depends on your contract. Agency workers are entitled to the same minimum after 12 weeks with the same employer.
How is part-time holiday entitlement calculated?
Part-time workers are entitled to the same 5.6 weeks as full-time workers, but calculated proportionally. The formula is: days worked per week × 5.6. So someone working 3 days a week gets 3 × 5.6 = 16.8 days per year. This can be rounded up but never down. If you work irregular hours, your entitlement is calculated in hours rather than days. Part-time workers must not be treated less favourably than comparable full-time workers — this is protected by the Part-time Workers Regulations 2000.
Do bank holidays count as part of my 28 days?
It depends entirely on your employment contract. Many employers give workers 20 days personal leave plus 8 bank holidays, which adds up to the statutory minimum of 28 days. Other employers give the full 28 days and expect workers to use some of that entitlement on bank holidays. A smaller number of employers give more than 28 days and treat bank holidays as genuinely additional leave. There is no automatic legal right to take bank holidays as paid leave — it depends on what your contract says. Always check your contract wording carefully.
Why does Northern Ireland have more bank holidays?
Northern Ireland has 10 bank holidays compared to 8 in England and Wales. The two additional holidays are St Patrick's Day (17th March) and The Twelfth (12th July). It's worth noting that while these are official bank holidays, there is no legal obligation for businesses in Northern Ireland to close — opening hours are at the discretion of each employer. Scotland has 9 bank holidays, including 2nd January and St Andrew's Day, but does not observe Easter Monday.
How much holiday do I accrue as a new starter?
Holiday accrues from your first day of employment. As a new starter part-way through a leave year, your entitlement is calculated proportionally based on how much of the leave year remains. For example, if your employer's leave year runs April to March and you start in October, you'd be entitled to approximately half your annual allowance for that year. Some employers use a simple accrual system of 1/12th of annual entitlement per month worked. Use the mid-year starter option above to calculate your exact accrued entitlement.
Can I carry over unused holiday?
Under standard rules, workers can carry over up to 4 weeks (20 days) of unused statutory leave if they were unable to take it due to sickness, maternity leave, or other statutory leave. The additional 1.6 weeks (8 days) generally cannot be carried over unless your contract allows it. Workers who were unable to take holiday due to the Covid-19 pandemic were granted extended carry-over rights, allowing up to 4 weeks to be carried over for up to 2 years. Always check your employment contract for your employer's specific carry-over policy, as many are more generous than the statutory minimum.
Do I accrue holiday during my notice period?
Yes — you continue to accrue holiday entitlement throughout your notice period, whether you are working your notice or on garden leave. If you have unused holiday when you leave, your employer must either allow you to take it during your notice period or pay you in lieu (called holiday pay in lieu of notice). The payment is calculated based on your average weekly pay over the previous 52 weeks. If your employer refuses to pay for accrued unused holiday on termination, you can make a claim to an Employment Tribunal.