Overtime = 1.5× your regular rate (federally required for 40+ hours/week). Double time = 2× your regular rate (required only in certain states like California, or by union contracts). Most US workers never receive double time unless they live in California or have a union agreement.
When you're logging long hours at work, knowing the difference between overtime and double time can mean hundreds of extra dollars on your paycheck. These two pay rates are often confused — but they're fundamentally different in when they apply and how they're calculated.
This guide explains exactly what each rate means, when each kicks in, which states require double time, and how to calculate both with worked examples.
What Is Overtime Pay?
Overtime pay is compensation at 1.5 times your regular hourly rate for any hours worked beyond 40 in a single workweek. This is mandated by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) — federal law that covers most US workers.
For example, if you earn $20/hour and work 48 hours in a week:
OT pay: 8 hrs × ($20 × 1.5) = 8 × $30 = $240
Total weekly pay: $800 + $240 = $1,040
What Is Double Time Pay?
Double time is compensation at exactly 2× your regular hourly rate. It's not required by federal law — the FLSA only mandates 1.5× overtime. Double time becomes relevant in specific situations:
- California law: Mandates 2× for hours over 12 in a workday, and all hours on the 7th consecutive workday
- Union/CBA agreements: Many collective bargaining agreements require double time on holidays, Sundays, or shifts exceeding 12 hours
- Employment contracts: Some employers voluntarily offer double time as an incentive for undesirable shifts
- Alaska: Requires double time for hours over 12/day in some industries
Key takeaway: If you don't live in California, aren't covered by a union contract, and don't have a special employment agreement — you are likely not entitled to double time pay under the law. Standard FLSA overtime (1.5×) is your legal minimum.
California Double Time Rules (2026)
California has the most comprehensive double time requirements in the US. Most non-exempt workers in California are covered under Industrial Welfare Commission (IWC) Wage Orders:
Regular Pay — Hours 1–8 in a Workday
Paid at your normal regular rate. No premium applies for the first 8 hours of a standard workday.
Overtime — Hours 9–12 in a Day / Over 40 in a Week
Daily overtime applies to hours 9 through 12 in any single workday. Weekly overtime applies to hours 41–60 in a workweek (if not already covered by daily OT).
Double Time — After Hour 12 in a Day / All of Day 7
Any hours beyond the 12th hour of a single workday are paid at 2×. All hours worked on the 7th consecutive day of a workweek are paid at 2× (regardless of how many hours).
| Hours in a Day | Pay Rate | Multiplier |
|---|---|---|
| Hours 1–8 | Regular rate | 1.0× |
| Hours 9–12 | Overtime | 1.5× |
| Hours 13+ | Double time | 2.0× |
| 7th day: all hours (first 8) | Overtime | 1.5× |
| 7th day: hours 9+ | Double time | 2.0× |
Rate: $24/hour | Hours worked: 14 hours in one day
Hours 1–8 (regular): 8 × $24 = $192
Hours 9–12 (1.5× OT): 4 × $36 = $144
Hours 13–14 (2× double time): 2 × $48 = $96
Rate: $20/hour | Hours on Day 7: 10 hours
First 8 hours (1.5× OT): 8 × $30 = $240
Hours 9–10 (2× double time): 2 × $40 = $80
🧮 Calculate OT & Double Time Instantly
ClockCalc supports California's daily overtime and double-time rules. Enter your hours — get your exact pay breakdown in seconds.
Use Free Calculator →Federal Rules: No Double Time Requirement
At the federal level, the FLSA only requires overtime pay at 1.5× for hours beyond 40 per week. There is no federal requirement for double time — not for 12+ hour days, not for weekends, not for holidays.
This means that unless your state law, union contract, or employer policy specifically provides for double time, you will receive 1.5× for all overtime hours regardless of how long your shift is.
| Scenario | Federal (FLSA) | California |
|---|---|---|
| Hours 41–48 in a week | 1.5× (OT) | 1.5× (OT) |
| Hours 9–12 in a day | 1.0× (no OT) | 1.5× (daily OT) |
| Hours 13+ in a day | 1.5× (only if 40+ hrs) | 2.0× (double time) |
| 7th consecutive day | 1.5× (if 40+ hrs) | 1.5× first 8, then 2× |
| Holidays | 1.0× (no requirement) | 1.0× (unless policy says otherwise) |
| Sundays / Weekends | 1.0× (no requirement) | 1.0× (unless 7th day rule) |
Who Gets Double Time Pay?
Beyond California, double time is typically provided through:
Union & Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs)
Many industries with strong union representation — including transportation, healthcare, manufacturing, and construction — have CBAs that require double time for:
- Hours worked on federal holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.)
- Shifts exceeding 12 consecutive hours
- Work on Sundays (for some agreements)
- Emergency call-ins outside scheduled hours
Employer Policy (Voluntary)
Some employers voluntarily offer double time as an incentive for undesirable shifts — overnight work, weekend coverage, emergency response, or peak-season overtime. While not legally required (outside California), it helps attract workers to difficult schedules.
Healthcare & Nursing
Many hospital systems and nursing contracts provide double time for hours over 12 in a 12-hour shift, or for being called in on a scheduled day off. This is contractual, not statutory (outside California). See our Nurse Overtime Calculator guide for details.
Double Time Calculation Formula
Full Day (California) = Regular Pay + OT Pay + Double Time Pay
= (8 × Rate) + (4 × Rate × 1.5) + (DT hours × Rate × 2)
Rate: $18/hour | Shift: 10 hours on a holiday | Contract: CBA requires 2× on all holiday hours
Double time pay: 10 × ($18 × 2) = 10 × $36 = $360
Holiday Pay vs. Double Time
It's worth clarifying: holiday pay and double time are different things, though they're often confused.
- Holiday pay: Compensation for a holiday when you're NOT required to work (e.g., paid day off)
- Holiday premium: Extra pay (1.5× or 2×) for actually working on a holiday
- Double time on a holiday: 2× your regular rate for working on a specified holiday (contractual)
The FLSA does not require holiday pay of any kind — not time off, not premium pay, nothing. All holiday compensation comes from employer policy or union agreements.
Quick Reference: OT vs Double Time
| Factor | Overtime (1.5×) | Double Time (2×) |
|---|---|---|
| Pay multiplier | 1.5× regular rate | 2.0× regular rate |
| Federal requirement | Yes (FLSA) | No |
| California daily trigger | After 8 hrs/day | After 12 hrs/day |
| Weekly trigger | After 40 hrs | N/A federally |
| Who gets it? | All non-exempt workers | CA workers, union members, some contracts |
| Holiday work | Only if 40+ hrs/wk | If CBA specifies |
Know Your Rate Before Your Next Shift
ClockCalc automatically applies the correct rate — 1× regular, 1.5× overtime, or 2× double time — based on your state and hours worked.
Calculate My Pay →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between overtime and double time?
Overtime is 1.5× your regular rate for hours over 40/week — required by federal law. Double time is 2× your regular rate — required by California law (after 12 hours/day or 7th consecutive day), or by union contracts. Federal law does not require double time.
When do you get double time instead of overtime?
Under California law, double time applies after the 12th hour in a workday, or for all hours on the 7th consecutive day of work. Under union agreements, double time often applies on holidays or for 12+ hour shifts. Federal law never requires double time.
How do you calculate double time pay?
Double time = Regular hourly rate × 2 × double-time hours. Example: $22/hour × 2 × 3 double-time hours = $132 in double-time pay on top of your regular and overtime pay.
Does federal law require double time pay?
No. The FLSA only requires 1.5× overtime for hours over 40/week. Double time may be required by California state law, certain union contracts, or individual employment agreements — not by the federal government.
Do I get double time for working on holidays?
Not automatically. The FLSA doesn't require premium pay for holidays. You get holiday double time only if your employer's policy, union contract, or (in some cases) state law specifically requires it. Check your employee handbook or CBA.
Related reading: How to Calculate Overtime Pay · California Overtime Rules · Nurse Overtime Calculator