Annual Leave Calculator

Calculate your annual leave entitlement in Australia

Why Use Our Annual Leave Calculator?

Understanding your annual leave entitlements is essential for every Australian employee, yet calculating accrued leave can be surprisingly complex. Whether you're planning your next holiday, negotiating with your employer, or preparing to change jobs, knowing exactly how much paid time off you've earned is crucial information.

Our free Annual Leave Calculator takes the guesswork out of leave calculations. Built specifically for Australian workplaces and aligned with the Fair Work Act 2009, this tool accurately computes your leave entitlements based on your employment type, working hours, and length of service. Unlike generic calculators, we account for the unique aspects of Australian employment law, including pro-rata calculations for part-time workers.

Simply enter your employment details below and receive an instant breakdown of your accrued leave in weeks, days, and hours. Whether you're a full-time employee wanting to confirm your four-week entitlement or a part-time worker needing to understand your proportional leave, our calculator provides the clarity you need to make informed decisions about your work-life balance.

Calculate Your Annual Leave

Today's date or date you want to check entitlement for

User Guide & Frequently Asked Questions

How to Use This Calculator

Using our annual leave calculator is straightforward. First, select your employment type from the dropdown menu. If you're a part-time employee, you'll be prompted to enter your average weekly hours. Next, input your employment start date and the reference date (typically today's date) for which you want to calculate your leave balance. Click "Calculate Leave" to see your results displayed in weeks, days, and hours.

The calculator uses the standard Australian accrual rate of 4 weeks per year for full-time employees working 38 hours weekly. Part-time employees receive pro-rata entitlements based on their contracted hours. Remember that this calculator provides estimates based on the National Employment Standards, and your actual entitlements may vary based on your specific award, enterprise agreement, or employment contract.

Common Questions About Annual Leave in Australia

How much annual leave do I accrue per year in Australia?

Under the Fair Work Act 2009, full-time employees accrue 4 weeks (20 days or 152 hours based on a 38-hour week) of paid annual leave per year. This accrues progressively throughout the year, meaning you earn approximately 2.923 hours of leave for each week worked. Part-time employees receive a proportional amount based on their ordinary hours. For example, if you work 19 hours per week (half of full-time), you would accrue 2 weeks of paid leave annually. Casual employees do not accrue annual leave but receive a casual loading instead.

Do casual employees get annual leave in Australia?

No, casual employees in Australia do not accrue annual leave. This is one of the key distinctions between casual and permanent employment. To compensate for the lack of leave entitlements (including annual leave, personal leave, and public holiday pay), casual employees receive a casual loading on top of their base hourly rate. This loading is typically 25% under most modern awards. If you're unsure whether you're classified as casual, check your employment contract or speak with your employer. Some long-term casual workers may be eligible to convert to permanent employment under the casual conversion provisions in the Fair Work Act.

What happens to my unused annual leave when I resign or am terminated?

When your employment ends for any reason, whether you resign, are made redundant, or are terminated, you are legally entitled to be paid out for any accrued but untaken annual leave. This payment must be calculated at your current rate of pay and included in your final pay. There is no cap on how much accrued leave must be paid out. If your employment agreement includes leave loading (typically 17.5%), this may also be payable on termination, depending on your specific award or agreement. Keep records of your leave balance to ensure you receive the correct final payment.

Understanding Annual Leave in Australia

What is Annual Leave?

Annual leave is paid time off work that Australian employees accrue throughout their employment. It's a fundamental employment entitlement under the Australian Fair Work Act 2009, providing workers with paid rest and recreation time.

Annual Leave Entitlements

Under the Fair Work Act, most Australian employees are entitled to a minimum of four weeks (20 days) of paid annual leave for each year of service. This entitlement is based on an employee's ordinary hours of work.

How Annual Leave Accrues

Annual leave accrues progressively throughout the year based on your employment period and the hours you work. The accrual rate is approximately 0.769 hours for every 38 hours worked for full-time employees. This means:

  • Full-time employees typically accrue 4 weeks (152 hours) of annual leave per year
  • Part-time employees accrue annual leave on a pro-rata basis, calculated proportionally based on their hours worked
  • Casual employees are generally paid a higher hourly rate but do not accrue annual leave

Taking Annual Leave

Employees can request annual leave at any time during their employment, and employers cannot unreasonably refuse a leave request. However, employers have the right to manage when leave is taken to ensure business operations continue smoothly. It's common practice to discuss and schedule leave in advance.

Leave Loading

Some modern awards and enterprise agreements include "leave loading" (also known as holiday pay loading), which is an additional payment when taking annual leave. This is typically 17.5% on top of your base pay rate. Leave loading has been progressively removed from many modern awards, so check your specific award or employment agreement.

Annual Leave for New Employees

New employees don't receive their full annual leave entitlement immediately. Leave accrues from the start of employment. For example, if you've worked for 6 months, you'll have accrued approximately half your annual entitlement.

Annual Leave and Public Holidays

Annual leave does not include public holidays. If a public holiday falls within your annual leave period, you remain entitled to that public holiday pay without reducing your annual leave balance.

Unused Annual Leave

Unlike some countries, Australian employees can carry over unused annual leave. There's no automatic expiry, though employers may require employees to take leave if a significant balance accumulates (generally 8 weeks or more in most modern awards).

Cashing Out Annual Leave

Under certain conditions and with mutual agreement between employer and employee, some annual leave can be "cashed out" (taken as payment instead of time off). There are strict requirements around this, and employees must always retain at least 4 weeks of accrued annual leave.

Annual Leave on Termination

When employment ends, you're entitled to payment for any accrued annual leave you haven't taken. This is calculated based on your accrued leave balance and your current rate of pay. Any accrued annual leave is paid out in full.

Additional Information

The information provided by this calculator is based on the standard entitlements under the Fair Work Act 2009. Your specific entitlements may vary depending on:

  • Your modern award or enterprise agreement
  • Your employment contract
  • Your specific employment arrangement

Always consult your employer, HR department, or the Fair Work Ombudsman for advice specific to your situation.

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