Calculate public holiday pay at the right penalty
Pick the public holiday penalty for your award, enter the base rate and hours worked, and see the public holiday hourly rate, total pay and the extra you pay compared to ordinary hours.
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This calculator provides general estimates only. Public holiday penalty rates vary by modern award, enterprise agreement and employment type (for example, casuals may include the casual loading), and this tool does not account for allowances or superannuation. It is not legal or payroll advice — confirm the correct penalty with the Fair Work Pay Calculator before paying staff. It does not constitute legal, HR, or professional advice and should not be relied on as a substitute for advice specific to your business, workforce, or circumstances.
Public holiday pay calculator
Select the penalty that applies under your award, then enter the base rate and hours worked.
Public holiday pay estimate
Estimates only — verify before making decisions.
How to calculate public holiday pay
5 steps, using the same method as the calculator above.
Confirm the day is a public holiday
The NES list plus state and territory declarations.
Find the base hourly rate
The award classification rate before penalties.
Apply the public holiday penalty
Commonly 225–250%, depending on the award.
Multiply by hours worked
Penalty rate × hours worked on the day.
Check entitlements for staff who do not work
Staff not working may still be paid ordinary hours.
Worked example: 8 hours on a public holiday
What an 8-hour public holiday shift costs at 250%.
Public holiday shift, $25.00 base hourly rate
Indicative estimate- Hours worked
- 8
- Penalty
- 250%
- Employment type
- Permanent
Public holiday pay breakdown
Penalty rates differ by award and by employment type. Check the award rates guides for the figure that applies to your staff.
How public holiday pay works
Under the National Employment Standards, employees are entitled to be absent on a public holiday, and permanent staff are generally paid their ordinary rate for that day even if they don’t work. Employees who do work a public holiday are usually paid a penalty rate set by their modern award — commonly time and a half (150%), double time (200%) or double time and a half (250%).
To calculate it, multiply the base hourly rate by the penalty multiplier, then by the hours worked. At 250%, a $28.00 base rate over 10 hours is $28.00 × 2.5 × 10 = $700.00, of which $420.00 is the extra above ordinary pay. Because the correct penalty differs by award, pick the one that applies and confirm it in your penalty rate guide.
Worked examples
How the penalty changes total pay for hours worked on a public holiday. Figures exclude allowances and superannuation.
$25.00/hr · 8 hrs · 150%
Rate $37.50/hr, total $300.00 — extra $100.00 vs ordinary.
$30.00/hr · 8 hrs · 200%
Rate $60.00/hr, total $480.00 — extra $240.00 vs ordinary.
$28.00/hr · 10 hrs · 250%
Rate $70.00/hr, total $700.00 — extra $420.00 vs ordinary.
Penalties vary by award
There is no single public holiday penalty across Australia — it is set by each modern award or agreement, and casual rates may include the casual loading on top. Check the applicable award rates and confirm with Fair Work before you pay. To add the casual loading to a base rate first, use the casual loading calculator.
See labour costs before the roster goes out
RosterElf applies award rates, loadings and penalties as you build the roster, so the cost is visible before you publish rather than after payroll.
Rostering staff across public holidays?
Upgrade to RosterElf to apply the correct public holiday penalties automatically.
Free calculator
Great for a quick public holiday pay check
- Choose the applicable penalty
- Hourly, total & extra pay
- Instant estimate
- No signup required
- Automatic award interpretation
- Public holiday calendars applied
- Time & attendance tracking
- Payroll integration
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- Award interpretation & penalties
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Frequently asked questions
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Multiply the base hourly rate by the public holiday penalty (for example 2.5 for 250%), then by the hours worked. A $28.00 rate over 10 hours at 250% is $28.00 × 2.5 × 10 = $700.00. The correct penalty is set by your award — see how to calculate penalty rates.
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It varies by award — commonly time and a half (150%), double time (200%) or double time and a half (250%). Some awards give time off in lieu instead. Always confirm the rate in the applicable award or with the Fair Work Pay Calculator.
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Often, yes. For casuals the public holiday penalty may be applied on top of the 25% casual loading, depending on the award. Add the loading first with the casual loading calculator, then apply the public holiday penalty.