Overtime Pay Calculator (France)
Written by Thierno Sadou Diallo, formula verified per our methodology • Last checked on 9/5/2026
Overtime pay is calculated with a 25% premium for the first 8 hours worked beyond 35h/week, then 50% beyond that. For 10 overtime hours at €15/h, the total premium comes to €45 (€30 at 25%, €15 at 50%), for total pay of €195.
Explanation
In France, the legal working week is set at 35 hours: any hour worked beyond that is overtime, which must be paid with a premium, unless compensated by an equivalent period of paid rest instead. The French Labor Code sets a default legal premium rate, applicable in the absence of a collective agreement stating otherwise: 25% for the first 8 overtime hours of the week (the 36th to the 43rd hour), then 50% for each following hour. This calculator applies this rule in two tiers: it first identifies how many hours fall under the first tier (capped at 8h) and how many fall under the second (the rest, with no upper legal limit other than the annual quota), then calculates the premium specific to each tier before adding them to the base pay for the hours themselves. A branch or company agreement can set premium rates different from these defaults, but never below 10% — a point worth checking against your collective bargaining agreement or employment contract before using this calculator for a real case, since the rate actually applied can differ from the default legal rate. Beyond the pay itself, overtime also benefits from favorable social and tax treatment, with an income tax exemption up to a certain annual limit — a distinct advantage from the premium itself, not to be confused with it. To find the net salary actually received once these hours are added to base pay, see our gross to net salary calculator; independent workers, who aren't subject to this system, can compare their situation via our hourly, monthly, annual salary calculator.
Example: 10 overtime hours at €15/h
Inputs
Normal hourly rate: €15. Overtime hours worked: 10 h.
Calculation
25% tier: min(10, 8) = 8h → 8 × 15 × 0.25 = €30. 50% tier: max(10−8, 0) = 2h → 2 × 15 × 0.5 = €15. Total pay = (10 × 15) + 30 + 15 = €195.
Result
These 10 overtime hours are paid €195 in total, including a €45 premium (€30 at 25%, €15 at 50%) compared to pay with no premium.
Frequently asked questions
Is the premium rate always 25% and 50%?
That's the default legal rate, applicable in the absence of a collective agreement stating otherwise, but a branch or company agreement can set a different rate — higher or lower, within the limit of a legal floor of 10% that can never be crossed. It's therefore essential to check your collective bargaining agreement or employment contract to find the rate actually applicable in your situation before using this calculator for a real case.
Can a company replace the premium with compensatory rest instead?
Yes, a collective agreement can provide for fully or partially replacing overtime pay (and its premium) with an equivalent period of compensatory rest, under certain conditions. In that case, no additional pay is issued for these hours, replaced instead by an equivalent amount of paid rest time — a distinct mechanism from the one calculated here, which assumes direct payment.
Is there a limit to the number of overtime hours an employee can work?
Yes, a legal annual quota limits the number of overtime hours an employee can work without special authorization (220 hours per year in the absence of a collective agreement setting a different quota), beyond which the employer must consult employee representatives and grant a mandatory additional rest compensation.