Overtime calculator: hours, time off and pay

Overtime and Mehrarbeit: what is the difference?

Overtime (Überstunden) is time above the hours in the contract. If you agreed 38 hours and work 41, you have 3 hours of overtime. Mehrarbeit in the narrower sense means work above the legal limit of the Working Time Act (Arbeitszeitgesetz), which is 8 hours per working day. In everyday use many people mean the same thing by both, and collective agreements sometimes define them differently. When in doubt, what was agreed in your case counts.

This page follows German rules. Other countries handle overtime differently, so do not use it for a job outside Germany.

Time off in lieu or payment?

Overtime is either compensated with time off or paid. Many employers keep a time account (Zeitkonto): extra hours are credited and taken off later. Others pay them out with the next payslip. Which one applies is set by the employment contract, a works agreement or a collective agreement. The calculator shows both side by side so you can compare.

• Time off in lieu: overtime hours divided by the hours of one working day. The calculator uses contracted hours ÷ 5, so 8 at 40 hours.
• Payment: overtime hours × hourly wage × (1 + surcharge). The result is a gross amount.

If nothing is agreed, section 612 of the Civil Code (BGB) can still make pay due when overtime is only to be expected against pay in the circumstances. Whether that applies to you depends on the individual case.

Is there an overtime surcharge?

There is no general statutory surcharge for overtime in Germany. A surcharge, for example 25 %, applies only if the contract, a works agreement or a collective agreement provides one. That is why the calculator starts at 0 %, and you enter a surcharge only if one was agreed in your case.

Is overtime covered by the salary?

Some contracts say overtime is covered by the salary. Such flat-rate clauses are valid only within limits. They have to be transparent, meaning it must be clear how many overtime hours are meant. A clause without a clear limit is often open to challenge. Some contracts also contain cut-off periods (Ausschlussfristen) after which claims lapse unless raised in time. Legal advice is the best way to check whether that applies to you.

What does the Working Time Act say?

Under section 3 of the Working Time Act (ArbZG), daily working time may not exceed 8 hours. It can be extended to up to 10 hours if the average of 8 hours per working day is not exceeded within six calendar months or 24 weeks. Working days are Monday to Saturday, which at 8 hours is 48 hours a week on paper.

The calculator uses that number as a simple guide: if your weekly average is above 48 hours you get a warning. Between 40 and 48 hours it points out that the balance over 24 weeks has to be kept. This is orientation, not legal advice. Collective agreements and special rules, for example for young workers or certain sectors, can differ.

Record working time instead of guessing

Overtime can only be shown if working time is written down. Since the Federal Labour Court ruling of 13 September 2022, employers in Germany have to record working time. HR FLARE is free to start and tracks attendance: employees clock in and out in the browser or on their phone.