Working Hours
How Many Working Hours Are There in a Year in the UK?
Annual hours are used to convert salaries into hourly rates, plan staffing and check working-time limits. Contracted hours and hours actually worked are different numbers.
Time-Clocking — General guidance with linked official sources
Quick answer
On a 37.5-hour week, 37.5 × 52 = 1,950 contracted hours a year. Remove 28 days of statutory leave (28 × 7.5 = 210 hours) and about 1,740 hours are actually worked.
Annual Working Hours Calculator
Result
- Contracted hours per year
- 1,955
- Paid leave hours
- 210
- Hours actually worked
- 1,745
- Average per month (worked)
- 145.4
A year has 52.14 weeks. 37.5 h × 52.14 = 1,955 h. Leave: 28 days × 7.5 h/day = 210 h.
Annual hours for common working weeks
| Hours per week | Contracted (× 52) | Worked after 28 days' leave |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | 1,820 | 1,624 |
| 37.5 | 1,950 | 1,740 |
| 40 | 2,080 | 1,856 |
| 45 | 2,340 | 2,088 |
Five-day week assumed. Leave hours = 28 days × (weekly hours ÷ 5).
How to calculate it
- Multiply weekly hours by 52 for contracted hours.
- Work out hours per day (weekly ÷ days per week).
- Multiply paid leave days by hours per day and subtract.
Using 52.14 weeks (365 ÷ 7) is slightly more precise; the annual working hours calculator does this for you.
The UK 48-hour limit
Under the Working Time Regulations most workers can't be made to work more than 48 hours a week on average, normally over 17 weeks. Workers aged 18 or over can opt out in writing. Under-18s can't work more than 8 hours a day or 40 a week.
Hours above the contract are covered in our UK overtime guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours a year is full time in the UK?
There's no legal definition of full time. Most full-time contracts are 35–40 hours a week, which is 1,820–2,080 contracted hours.
How many hours are in a working month?
On 37.5 hours a week, about 162.5 contracted hours (1,950 ÷ 12).
Sources and references
- GOV.UK — Maximum weekly working hours
- GOV.UK — Holiday entitlement
- Working Time Regulations 1998 (legislation.gov.uk)
General information, not legal advice. Check your contract and GOV.UK for your situation.