Police Overtime Calculator UK
Work out your time and a third, REOP, public-holiday and recall-to-duty pay against the 2026 England & Wales pay scales — instantly, without spreadsheets.
Open the calculator
Enter your pay scale point. We do the time-and-a-third maths plus tax estimate.
Open the police overtime calculator →How police overtime is paid in 2026
Police overtime in England and Wales follows Police Regulations 2003 (Regulation 25). The headline rate is time and a third (1.33x your hourly rate) for unplanned overtime worked on a rostered duty day. That sounds simple — until rest days, public holidays and short-notice recall enter the picture.
Here is the quick reference for the most common scenarios. Use it alongside the police overtime calculator to work the numbers exactly.
| Scenario | Multiplier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Unplanned overtime, normal duty day | 1.33x | Standard time and a third |
| Rest day, <15 days' notice (REOP) | 1.5x | Plus a day off in lieu |
| Rest day, >15 days' notice | 1.33x | Plus a day off in lieu |
| Public holiday on a rest day | 2.0x | Double time |
| Recall to duty (off-duty, called in) | 1.5x | Minimum 4 hours guaranteed |
| On-call allowance | Flat rate | Plus overtime when called out |
How to calculate police overtime in 60 seconds
- Find your annual pay. Look up your scale point on the 2026 federated police pay scale. A Constable at 2/2 is currently £36,966.
- Get your hourly rate. Annual pay ÷ 2,080 hours = hourly rate. £36,966 ÷ 2,080 = £17.77/hr.
- Pick your multiplier. Time and a third = 1.33x. REOP at short notice = 1.5x. Public holiday on rest day = 2x.
- Multiply. £17.77 × 1.33 = £23.63/hr in overtime. £23.63 × 4 hours of overtime = £94.53 gross.
- Estimate take-home. Subtract income tax + NI. The overtime calculator does steps 2-5 automatically and includes the latest 2025/26 tax thresholds.
Police pay scales 2026 — key points
The full pay scale changes apply from September 2025. Quick reference (England & Wales, federated ranks):
- Constable starting: £29,907 (point 0/0)
- Constable top: £48,750 (point 7/7)
- Sergeant starting: £49,755
- Inspector starting: £61,752
For the full 2026 scale and the September pay rise context see the UK Police Pay Scales 2025-26 guide. For the broader context on why tracking your own hours matters in 2026, read Police Working Hours Crisis 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is police time and a third the same as time and a half?
No. Time and a third is 1.33x your hourly rate. Time and a half is 1.5x. Police default to time and a third for unplanned overtime on a normal duty day; time and a half kicks in for short-notice rest day working.
What is REOP?
Rest day Overtime Payment. If you are recalled to work on a rostered rest day with less than 15 days' notice, you are paid at 1.5x. With more than 15 days' notice, it drops to 1.33x but you still get a day off in lieu.
Do PCSOs and Specials get overtime?
PCSOs are typically paid at 1.5x for overtime under their force's local agreement. Specials are volunteers and do not receive overtime pay. Detention Officers' rates vary by force.
Does the calculator deduct tax?
Yes. It estimates 20% income tax plus National Insurance against UK 2025/26 thresholds and shows you take-home pay. Higher-rate earners can adjust the tax band manually.
Can I track my actual overtime hours alongside the calculator?
Yes — the Overtime Live app tracks your live shift earnings on your iPhone or Android lock screen and gives you a running total without you having to open it. Free on the App Store and Google Play.
Calculate now
Free. No sign-up. UK 2025/26 tax bands baked in.
Open the police overtime calculator →Related
Track your shifts on Overtime Live
The calculator above is great for one-off questions. For tracking your shifts day-by-day so you have a record of exactly what your force owes you, download the free Overtime Live app: