TOIL calculator
Convert overtime into time off in lieu — in days and hours, with an optional enhanced rate — and subtract the TOIL already taken to get the balance left. Everything runs in your browser; nothing is sent anywhere.
TOIL balance
1.5 days
How TOIL is calculated
Time off in lieu (TOIL) turns extra hours into equivalent paid time off instead of overtime pay. The overtime worked is multiplied by an agreed rate, then divided by the length of a standard working day to express it in days.
Formula
(overtime hours × rate − hours taken) ÷ hours per working day = TOIL days
Many policies use a flat 1.0× rate for ordinary overtime and an enhanced rate (1.5× or 2×) for weekends or public holidays. Set the rate to match yours.
Worked examples
All three use an 8-hour working day.
| Overtime | Rate | TOIL earned | In days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 h on a weekday | 1× | 6 h | 0.75 days |
| 6 h on a Saturday | 1.5× | 9 h | 1.125 days |
| 4 h on a weekday + 4 h on a Saturday | 1× and 1.5× | 4 h + 6 h = 10 h | 1.25 days |
For mixed rates, run the calculator once per rate and add the results. If 4 of those 10 hours have already been taken, the balance is 6 hours, or 0.75 days.
Which working-day length to use
Use the employee's contracted daily hours, not a round number. A 37.5-hour week over five days is a 7.5-hour day, a 40-hour week is an 8-hour day. The difference matters: 12 hours of TOIL is 1.5 days on an 8-hour day but 1.6 days on a 7.5-hour day. For part-timers, use the length of the days they actually work.
Expiry, caps and payout when someone leaves are policy decisions; our guide to TOIL rules and a sample policy covers them.
Last reviewed on .
Related terms
Learn more in the glossary: TOIL, leave balance, and leave policy.
Frequently asked questions
- How is TOIL calculated?
- Time off in lieu is the overtime worked, multiplied by an agreed rate, converted into days using your standard working day. At a 1.0 rate, 8 hours of overtime with an 8-hour day is 1 day of TOIL. Some employers pay an enhanced rate (e.g. 1.5×) for overtime worked at weekends or on public holidays.
- What is the difference between TOIL and overtime pay?
- Both compensate for extra hours. Overtime pay gives the employee money; TOIL gives them equivalent paid time off instead. TOIL is popular with salaried teams because it avoids extra payroll cost while still recognising the hours worked.
- Does TOIL expire?
- That depends on your policy. Many employers require TOIL to be used within a set window (for example one to three months) so balances don't build up indefinitely. Absenca tracks each TOIL entry and balance so nothing is lost or forgotten.
- Can TOIL be paid out?
- Only if your policy or the employment contract says so. Write down whether unused TOIL is paid when it expires or when someone leaves, and at what rate, so the answer doesn't depend on who asks.
Track TOIL automatically with Absenca
Absenca records every TOIL entry, approves it, and keeps a running balance per employee — no spreadsheet. Free for up to 10 people.