Quick Answer
Time and a half means 1.5 times your ordinary hourly rate. It is one of the most common overtime rates in Australia and is often applied to the first two hours of overtime under many Modern Awards. A $30/hr ordinary rate becomes $45/hr at time and a half. The exact rule depends on the applicable award or enterprise agreement.
Quick Estimate — Time and a Half
General estimate only. Whether time and a half applies — and how — depends on your award or agreement.
What Is Time and a Half?
Time and a half means being paid 1.5 times your ordinary hourly rate. It is one of the most common overtime rates used in Australian workplaces and also applies as a penalty rate under some awards for Saturday work and other circumstances.
Formula
Time and a half pay = Ordinary hourly rate × 1.5
Worked Example
If your ordinary rate is $30.00:
$30.00 × 1.5 = $45.00 per hour
For a casual employee with a loaded rate of $37.50/hr:
$37.50 × 1.5 = $56.25 per hour
Common Mistake
Applying time and a half from the first hour of overtime without checking the award. Some awards apply time and a half from the first overtime hour, while others only apply it after a minimum number of hours worked. The threshold can also differ between daily overtime and weekly overtime. Always check your award before assuming the trigger point.
When Does Time and a Half Apply?
Time and a half commonly applies in the following situations (always check your award):
- First overtime hours: Many awards specify time and a half (1.5×) for the first one or two hours of overtime beyond ordinary hours.
- Saturday work: Some awards apply a 1.5× penalty rate for ordinary hours worked on Saturday.
- Other circumstances: Some awards apply time and a half to specific shift types, recall-to-work scenarios, or other situations.
After the initial time and a half period (often the first two hours), the rate typically increases to double time (2.0×). Check your specific Modern Award at the Fair Work Ombudsman website.
Use the full calculator to estimate time and a half with overtime and penalty rate breakdowns:
Use the Overtime Calculator AustraliaTime and a Half FAQs
What is time and a half?
Time and a half means being paid 1.5 times your ordinary hourly rate. For example, an ordinary rate of $30/hr becomes $45/hr at time and a half.
When does time and a half apply in Australia?
Time and a half commonly applies to the first one or two hours of overtime worked beyond ordinary hours under many Modern Awards. It may also apply to certain Saturday hours or other circumstances. The exact rule depends on the applicable award or enterprise agreement.
Does time and a half apply to casual employees?
For casual employees, time and a half is generally calculated on the casual loaded rate, not just the base rate. For example, if the casual loaded rate is $37.50/hr, time and a half would be $37.50 × 1.5 = $56.25/hr. Check your award for the exact method.
What happens after time and a half overtime?
After the initial time and a half period — commonly the first two hours of overtime — the rate typically increases to double time (2.0×) under many Modern Awards. The exact threshold depends on the applicable award or enterprise agreement.
Last updated: May 2026