Updated · Apr 2026
Topic Hub · Annual leave

Annual Leave Calculator Australia.

Calculate annual leave accrual, payout, 17.5% loading and cash-out under section 87 of the Fair Work Act 2009. For full-time, part-time, casual and shift workers.

✓ Free, no sign-up|Live|Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) s.87

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Standard FT week is 38 hours.
$
For loading & payout values.

Here's your entitlement

AU$6,268.17
Total annual leave value (incl. 17.5% loading) for 52 weeks of service.
4.0 wks
Entitlement
152.42 hrs
Accrued
19.1 days
Working days
See full calculationFair Work Act 2009 (Cth) s.87
ComponentFormulaValue
Accrual rate (FULL-TIME)4 wks × 38h ÷ 522.923 hrs/wk
Hours accrued2.923 × 52 wks152.42 hrs
Hourly base rate-$35.00
Base leave value152.42 × $35.00$5,334.62
17.5% leave loadingbase × 0.175+ $933.56
Total payout-$6,268.17

Where the value comes from

Base leave
$5,334
17.5% loading
$933

ⓘ Calculated under section 87 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) and the National Employment Standards. Loading rate per the relevant modern award.

Sarah Reid, CAHRI
Reviewed bySarah Reid, CAHRICert IV Payroll · Sydney based
Verified expert

Disclaimer: This tool does not constitute legal or financial advice. Results may be inaccurate due to changes in legislation or your circumstances. This tool does not constitute legal or financial advice. We do not recommend taking actions based solely on these results. The calculator makes assumptions and results may be inaccurate due to changes in legislation, modern awards, or your personal circumstances. You use this information at your own risk. We can't guarantee to be perfect, so do note you use the information at your own risk and we can't accept liability if things go wrong. For official guidance, visit Fair Work Ombudsman (fairwork.gov.au). Fair Work Ombudsman.

Annual leave Snapshot

Three numbers that define this entitlement.

Every figure derived from current legislation.

NES Entitlement
4wks/yr
For FT & PT
Set by the relevant statute.
Accrual rate
2.923hrs/wk
For 38-hr FT week
152 hrs over 52 weeks.
Loading
17.5%
On top of base pay
Award-dependent.
Worked Examples

Three real scenarios.

The math gets tangled when employment type, hours and timing combine.

M
Marcus
FT · Sydney · $42/hr

“I've been at the same company 3 years. How much annual leave have I accrued?”

3 yrs × 152 hrs = 456 hrs accrued. If he's used 2 weeks (76 hrs), his balance is 380 hrs. At $42/hr that's $15,960 base + $2,793 loading = $18,753 if paid out today.

A
Aisha
PT · 22 hrs/wk · Melbourne

“I work part-time, 22 hours a week. What's my annual leave entitlement?”

Pro-rata: (22 ÷ 38) × 152 = 87.95 hrs/year = ~11.5 working days. Annual leave is identical for FT and PT, only the proportion changes. 17.5% loading applies the same way.

J
Jen
Casual · Brisbane · $32/hr

“As a casual, do I get any annual leave?”

No paid annual leave. Instead, casuals receive a 25% loading on every hour worked, built into the $32/hr. Effective base rate without loading: $25.60/hr. The loading is her annual leave compensation.

Q & A

Annual leave questions.

The most-asked questions about this entitlement.

How is annual leave calculated in Australia?
FT employees accrue 4 weeks (152 hours) per year, about 2.923 hrs/week. PT employees accrue pro-rata. Casuals don't accrue paid annual leave; they receive 25% loading instead.
How many days is 100 hours of annual leave?
12.5 days based on an 8-hour workday. If your standard day is 7.6 hours (38-hr week ÷ 5 days), 100 hours equals 13.16 days.
What is annual leave loading and who gets it?
17.5% on top of base pay when annual leave is taken. Compensates for the loss of overtime and penalty rates while on leave. Eligibility depends on your modern award.
Can my employer force me to take annual leave?
In limited cases, yes. If your balance is "excessive" (typically 8+ weeks accrued), or during a planned shutdown, employers can direct you to take leave with reasonable written notice.
Can I cash out annual leave while still employed?
Sometimes. Most awards allow cash-out by written agreement, but you must keep at least 4 weeks of accrued leave on hand at all times.
Does annual leave accrue while I'm on leave?
Yes, paid annual leave, paid personal/carer's leave and paid public holidays all count toward continuous service for accrual purposes. Unpaid leave generally doesn't.
How does annual leave interact with public holidays?
If a public holiday falls during your annual leave, that day is paid as a public holiday, not deducted from your annual leave balance.
Annual leave Methodology

Built on Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) s.87.

Every annual leave calculation on this page is built directly from Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) s.87 and the relevant modern award where applicable.

Reviewed by a registered HR practitioner.

Last reviewed25 Apr 2026
ReviewerSarah Reid, CAHRI
Primary sourceFair Work Act 2009 (Cth) s.87
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