Overtime Calculator South Africa
Updated for the 2025/26 tax year · SARS & BCEA aligned · Free, no sign-up
Free BCEA overtime calculator. Convert monthly salary to an hourly rate, then apply the correct multiplier: 1.5x for weekday overtime, 2x for Sundays and public holidays.
Related: payroll software South Africa · SARS-compliant payroll · cloud payroll software South Africa · payroll guides
Overtime calculator
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Overtime under the BCEA — the rules
The Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) governs overtime for every South African employee earning below the annual earnings threshold (R261,748.45 from 1 April 2025). The rules are strict, and non-compliance is one of the most common CCMA disputes.
Ordinary vs overtime hours
- Maximum 45 ordinary hours per week (9 hours/day if 5-day week, 8 hours/day if 6-day week).
- Overtime is voluntary and must be by agreement.
- Maximum 10 hours overtime per week, 12 hours in a single day (including ordinary hours).
Overtime pay rates
- Weekday overtime: 1.5x the ordinary hourly rate.
- Sundays worked: 2x the ordinary rate (or 1.5x if the employee ordinarily works Sundays).
- Public holidays: Double pay if worked, or a paid day off if not.
- Night work (18:00–06:00): Allowance or reduced hours — negotiated per contract.
Time off in lieu
Overtime can be swapped for paid time off by written agreement: 1 hour of overtime = 30 minutes off paid, or 90 minutes off unpaid. The time off must be taken within 1 month, extended to 12 months by written agreement.
How the hourly rate is calculated
Divide the monthly salary by the ordinary monthly hours. A 45-hour week averages 195 ordinary hours a month (45 × 4.333). So R15,000 ÷ 195 = R76.92/hour. Weekday OT = R115.38/hour.
Who is excluded
Senior managers, sales staff who travel and control their own hours, and employees earning above the BCEA earnings threshold are excluded from the overtime provisions of sections 9–18 of the BCEA.
Related payroll guides
Frequently asked questions
What is the current BCEA earnings threshold?
R261,748.45 per year from 1 April 2025. Employees earning above this are excluded from the overtime, ordinary hours and Sunday work provisions.
Do I pay overtime on a public holiday?
If the public holiday falls on a working day and the employee works, you pay double the ordinary rate — or the ordinary rate plus what they normally earn for the day.
Can I average overtime over 4 months?
Yes — by written agreement you can average ordinary hours over up to 4 months (max 45 hrs/week average) as an alternative to weekly overtime.
How do I calculate overtime for a weekly wage?
Weekly wage ÷ ordinary weekly hours = hourly rate. Multiply by 1.5, 2 or 2 depending on when the overtime was worked.
Is overtime taxable?
Yes. Overtime is fully taxable as ordinary remuneration and forms part of PAYE, UIF and retirement fund calculations.
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