CanadaBritish Columbia202640h / weekBanking 1:1.5Whichever greaterDaily OT

British Columbia Overtime Calculator 2026

Q: What is British Columbia’s overtime threshold?

Under BC ESA s.40, overtime is 1.5× for hours after 8 in a day, and 2× for hours after 12 in a day. Weekly overtime also applies after 40 hours. BC uses whichever-is-greater between daily and weekly methods. Critically, only the first 8 hours worked each day count toward the 40-hour weekly threshold, which prevents double-counting daily and weekly OT.

Q: When does BC double time apply?

Double time (2×) applies after 12 hours of work in any single day — not only on a seventh consecutive day. That seventh-day concept is a US (California) rule. In BC: hours 9–12 at 1.5×, hours 13+ at 2×.

Q: Can I bank overtime in BC?

Yes. With an employee written request under ESA s.42, overtime can be taken as 1.5 hours of paid time off per overtime hour. Banking is not automatic — the written request/agreement rules matter.

Q: What if I am a federal employee working in BC?

Federally regulated employees follow the Canada Labour Code (8h/day or 40h/week, whichever greater) instead of BC ESA. CLC does not use BC’s after-12 double-time rule. Toggle “Federal Industry” in the calculator.

Q: How does BC statutory holiday pay work?

If eligible and you do not work the holiday, you receive an average day’s pay. If you work the holiday, you typically receive average day’s pay plus 1.5× for hours worked. BC’s average-day formula uses recent wages and days worked — verify current ESA holiday-pay rules for your situation.

Q: How is vacation pay calculated on overtime in BC?

Vacation pay is a percentage of total wages including overtime. BC’s statutory minimum is generally 4% after starting employment and rises with longer service (commonly to 6% after 5 years). Contracts or collective agreements may provide more.

Q: Are managers exempt from overtime in BC?

Managers and supervisors may be excluded if they primarily perform managerial duties. Regular front-line work alongside staff usually means the person is non-exempt. Title alone does not decide exemption under BC ESA.

Q: Example: 14-hour day in BC at $25/hr

On a 14-hour day: 8 regular hours, 4 hours at 1.5× (hours 9–12), and 2 hours at 2× (hours 13–14). That is $25×8 + $37.50×4 + $50×2 = $200 + $150 + $100 = $450 for the day before comparing with weekly OT. Use the calculator to combine a full week’s hours.

Q: Does BC allow overtime averaging?

Yes. ESA s.37 allows written averaging agreements (commonly up to 4 weeks). OT can trigger based on average weekly hours over the period. The daily 8h/12h rules still matter independently of averaging — confirm your agreement wording.

BC pays 1.5× after 8 hours (2× after 12) or after 40 hours/week — whichever pays more. Only the first 8 hours per day count toward the weekly 40-hour threshold.

By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026

Calculate British Columbia overtime pay

Province pre-set to British Columbia. Adjust hours, rate, federal employee status, stat holiday, banking, and vacation pay — results update as you type.

OT pay multipliers

Regular time

All regular hours

1.0×

Overtime (1.5×)

Daily or weekly threshold

1.5×

Double time (2×)

BC only: after 12h/day

2.0×

Source: Canada Labour Code; BC ESA §35; AB ESC §21

Province overtime rules

BCWhichever ≥

1.5× after 8h · 2× after 12h · or 40h/wk

ABWhichever ≥

1.5× after 8h/day · or 44h/wk

MB / SKWhichever ≥

1.5× after 8h/day · or 40h/wk

NT / NU / YTWhichever ≥

1.5× after 8h/day · or 40h/wk

ONWeekly

1.5× after 44h/wk (federal: 40h)

QC / NLWeekly

1.5× after 40h/wk

NBWeekly

1.5× after 44h/wk · No banking

NS / PEIWeekly

1.5× after 48h/wk

Federal CLCWhichever ≥

1.5× after 8h/day · or 40h/wk

Stat holiday pay

If not working: Average day's pay (weekly pay ÷ 5)

If working: Average day's pay + 1.5× premium for hours worked

ON/QC: 1/20th of last 4 weeks · BC/AB: average day formula

Banked time (time in lieu)

Most provinces: 1:1.5 (1h OT = 1.5h PTO, written agreement)

Alberta (ESC): 1:1 ratio — 1h OT = 1h PTO

Federal CLC s.174: 1:1.5 ratio

⚠ New Brunswick: overtime banking is NOT permitted (ESA NB)

Gross pay only — before tax. Overtime is taxable employment income in Canada. For federal and provincial tax, CPP, and EI, use our Canada tax calculator or the Ontario tax calculator

The weekly gross pay above comes from the hours you enter, your province's overtime rules, and your hourly rate—not a third-party feed. We classify hours as regular, overtime (1.5×), or double time (2×), compare daily vs weekly methods where provinces require whichever pays more, and optionally add statutory holiday pay, vacation pay accrual, and banked time-off equivalents. Below are the formulas, the order we follow, and worked examples you can check by hand.

Formulas

Line	Formula
Regular rate of pay (single rate)	Your base hourly wage
Weighted average rate (multiple rates)	Total earnings at all rates ÷ total hours worked
Regular pay	Regular hours × regular rate
Overtime pay	Overtime hours × regular rate × 1.5
Double-time pay	Double-time hours × regular rate × 2.0
Statutory holiday pay (worked)	Average day's pay + (holiday hours × rate × 1.5)
Vacation pay accrual	4% of gross (< 5 years service) · 6% (5+ years)
Banked time (time in lieu)	Overtime hours × province banking ratio (e.g. 1.5× in Ontario)
Total gross pay	Regular + OT + double time + stat holiday + vacation pay
Whichever is greater (BC, AB, MB, SK, territories)	Compare total daily-OT pay vs weekly-OT pay; use higher result

Order of operations

Apply provincial or federal rules

Province threshold · daily 8h rule · federal CLC if checked

Each province sets a weekly overtime threshold (40h in BC/QC, 44h in ON/AB, 48h in NS/PE, etc.). BC, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and the territories also have daily overtime after 8 hours. Federal employees follow the Canada Labour Code (8h/day or 40h/week, whichever pays more) regardless of province.

Classify hours by day and week

Regular · OT 1.5× · double time 2× (BC after 12h/day)

Enter hours for each day. British Columbia pays 1.5× after 8 hours and 2× after 12 hours in a day. Ontario and Quebec use weekly thresholds only (no daily OT under provincial rules). Where both daily and weekly OT apply, we calculate both and pay whichever method gives the employee more.

Determine the regular rate of pay

Single rate · or · weighted average across duties

Overtime premiums use the regular rate of pay—not a flat minimum wage unless that is your rate. With multiple pay rates in one week, we use total earnings divided by total hours.

Add optional premiums and accruals

Stat holiday · vacation pay · banked hours

If you worked a statutory holiday, we add an average day's pay plus 1.5× premium on holiday hours worked. Vacation pay accrual is 4% or 6% of gross depending on years of service. Banked time converts overtime hours to paid time off at your province's ratio (Alberta 1:1, most others 1:1.5; New Brunswick does not permit banking).

Sum gross weekly pay

All pay components added together

The total is gross pay before income tax, CPP, and EI. Use our Canada tax calculator for take-home on your annualized income.

Worked example

46h in Ontario at $20.00/hr

44h regular + 2h OT + 0h double time

$880.00 + $60.00 OT + $0.00 DT = $940.00 base gross

48h week (6× 8h days) · weekly OT: 48 − 40 = 8h OT · $800.00 + $240.00 OT = $1,040.00

Worked 8h on stat holiday: avg day $160.00 ($800.00 ÷ 5) + premium $240.00 (8h × $20.00 × 1.5) = $400.00 stat pay · total $1,200.00

44h in Ontario: federal employee $920.00 (4h OT over 40h) · provincial employee $880.00 (no OT under 44h ON threshold)

Quebec 45h − 40h = 5h OT banked at 1:1.5 → 7.5h hours time off

Line item	Amount
Province	Ontario
Rule	Ontario ESA: 1.5× after 44h/week
Total hours	46h
Regular hours	44h
Overtime hours (1.5×)	2h
Double-time hours (2×)	0h
Regular pay	$880.00
Overtime pay	$60.00
Total gross (base)	$940.00
Annualized (× 52)	$48,880.00

Provincial weekly thresholds

Province	Weekly OT after	Banking ratio
British Columbia	40h	1:1.5
Alberta	44h	1:1
Saskatchewan	40h	1:1.5
Manitoba	40h	1:1.5
Ontario	44h	1:1.5
Quebec	40h	1:1.5
New Brunswick	44h	Not permitted
Newfoundland and Labrador	40h	1:1.5
Nova Scotia	48h	1:1.5
Prince Edward Island	48h	1:1.5
Northwest Territories	40h	1:1.5
Nunavut	40h	1:1.5
Yukon	40h	1:1.5

Constants we use

Parameter	What we use	Source
Overtime multiplier	1.5× regular rate	Provincial employment standards
BC double-time multiplier	2.0× regular rate (after 12h/day)	BC ESA s.40
Ontario weekly threshold	44 hours	Ontario ESA
BC weekly threshold	40 hours	BC ESA (first 8h/day count toward weekly)
Federal CLC weekly threshold	40 hours	Canada Labour Code Part III
Vacation pay (< 5 years)	4% of gross	Canada Labour Standards
Vacation pay (5+ years)	6% of gross	Canada Labour Standards
Alberta banked-time ratio	1:1	AB Employment Standards Code
Ontario banked-time ratio	1:1.5	Ontario ESA (written agreement)

What we do not model on this page

We calculate gross weekly pay only—not federal or provincial income tax, CPP, EI, or net take-home. We do not model manager/professional exemptions, averaging agreements, union collective agreements, every nuance of statutory holiday eligibility by province, or exact vacation pay timing (paid vs accrued). Statutory holiday pay uses a simplified average-day formula. New Brunswick prohibits overtime banking—we show a 0 ratio. For after-tax pay, use our Canada tax calculator.

Official references

British Columbia overtime rules 2026

BC pays 1.5× after 8 hours (2× after 12) or after 40 hours/week — whichever pays more. Only the first 8 hours per day count toward the weekly 40-hour threshold. Rule type: Whichever greater. Federally regulated industries (banks, airlines, telecom, railways) use the Canada Labour Code instead — toggle federal employee in the calculator.

Weekly threshold

40h / week

Compared with daily OT

Daily overtime

Yes

1.5× after 8 hours; 2× after 12 hours

Double time

Yes

2× after 12 hours in a day (ESA s.40)

Banked time

Banking 1:1.5

1.5 hours of paid time off per overtime hour (1:1.5) with a written agreement.

British Columbia overtime FAQ