California Overtime Calculator
Daily 8/12-hour rules, 7th consecutive day, and the weekly top-up — with meal-premium flags. Enter one day or use the full-week version.
24-hour (18:15) or 12-hour (6:15 pm) both work; overnight shifts detected.
Full week with dates, multiple employees and exports: use the time card calculator with “California rules” checked in options.
The daily rules, visualized
| Hours in the day | Rate bucket |
|---|---|
| 1–8 | straight time |
| 8–12 (over 8) | 1.5× |
| over 12 | 2× |
| 7th consecutive day, first 8 h | 1.5× |
| 7th consecutive day, over 8 h | 2× |
| Weekly total over 40 (not already OT) | 1.5× |
Daily OT also counts toward the weekly 40
Six 9-hour days = 54 hours: each day already pays 1 hour of daily OT (6 total), and since all 54 count as hours worked, the weekly rule tops up any straight-time hours beyond 40 that weren't daily OT. This stacking is why California payroll needs software or this calculator — flat 40-hour logic underpays.
Where the rules come from
Labor Code §510 (daily/weekly overtime and the 7th-day rule), §226.7 (meal/rest premiums), and the DIR wage orders (exemptions, alternative workweeks). Minimum salary thresholds for exemption adjust with the state minimum wage — check the DIR for current figures.