NHS Overtime Pay Calculator 2025/26: Unsocial Hours, Night Shifts & Weekend Pay
Calculate your exact NHS overtime and unsocial hours pay after tax, NI, and pension. Covers night shifts (+30-41%), weekends (+60-88%), bank holidays (x2.0 + TOIL), stacked enhancements, and on-call pay across all Agenda for Change bands. See what your extra shifts are actually worth before accepting them.
Know What Your Extra Shifts Are Actually Worth
NHS overtime and unsocial hours follow complex rules under Agenda for Change. Enhancement rates vary by band, shifts can stack for nearly double pay, and deductions eat into your gross figure. Our calculator handles all of this so you can make informed decisions about which extra shifts to accept.
NHS Overtime & Unsocial Hours Calculator
Your Monthly Overtime & Enhancement Pay
Monthly Extra Take-Home
£0
After tax, NI & pension
Monthly Extra Gross
£0
Before deductions
Your Rates
Basic: £0/hr
Effective Net: £0/hr
Pension Tier: 0%
Earnings Breakdown (Monthly)
Deductions (Monthly)
Annual Projection (if this pattern continues)
Annual Extra Gross
£0
Annual Extra Net
£0
Total Extra Hours/Month
0 hrs
About This Estimate
Calculations use official 2025/26 Agenda for Change rates and HMRC thresholds. Overtime is calculated on basic salary only (HCAS excluded from overtime/enhancement calculations). Deductions are estimated assuming your base salary already uses your personal allowance. Actual payslip may vary due to tax code adjustments and cumulative PAYE. Always verify with your payslip through the Electronic Staff Record.
How NHS Overtime & Unsocial Hours Pay Works
Under Agenda for Change, overtime and unsocial hours are completely different payment types with separate rules. Understanding the distinction is essential to know what your extra shifts are actually worth.
Overtime
Applies only when you work beyond 37.5 hours per week (37 in Scotland). Pays multiplied rates on your basic hourly rate:
- Weekday (Mon-Fri): x1.5 (time and a half)
- Saturday: x1.5
- Sunday: x2.0 (double time)
- Bank Holiday: x2.0 + TOIL (double time plus day in lieu)
Part-time staff must exceed the full-time threshold, not their contracted hours, for overtime rates. Bands 8a-9 are generally not entitled to overtime under AfC terms.
Unsocial Hours
Applies to shifts worked at antisocial times within your contracted hours. Enhancement percentages vary by band:
- Band 2: Nights/Sat +41%, Sun/BH +88%
- Band 3: Nights/Sat +37%, Sun/BH +74%
- Bands 4-9: Nights/Sat +30%, Sun/BH +68%
Enhancements stack when shifts span multiple categories. Saturday night = night + Saturday combined. Sunday night = night + Sunday combined (up to +98% for Bands 4-9).
Unsocial Hours Enhancement Rates by Band
Enhancement Percentages
| Band | Night/Saturday | Sunday/Bank Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | +41% | +88% |
| Band 3 | +37% | +74% |
| Band 4 | +30% | +68% |
| Band 5 | +30% | +68% |
| Band 6 | +30% | +68% |
| Band 7 | +30% | +68% |
| Bands 8a-9 | +30% | +68% |
Stacked Enhancements (Bands 4-9)
| Shift Pattern | Enhancement | Band 5 Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Weekday night (8pm-6am) | +30% | £19.95/hr |
| Saturday day | +30% | £19.95/hr |
| Saturday night (stacked) | +60% | £24.55/hr |
| Sunday day | +68% | £25.78/hr |
| Sunday night (stacked) | +98% | £30.38/hr |
| Bank holiday night (stacked) | +98% + TOIL | £30.38/hr + TOIL |
Band 2 Sunday nights reach +129% total (41%+88%). Band 5 basic hourly rate: £15.34/hr.
Overtime Rates by Band (2025/26)
| Band | Entry Salary | Basic Hourly | Weekday/Sat OT (x1.5) | Sunday/BH OT (x2.0) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | £24,169 | £12.37 | £18.56 | £24.74 |
| Band 3 | £25,147 | £12.87 | £19.31 | £25.74 |
| Band 4 | £26,530 | £13.57 | £20.36 | £27.14 |
| Band 5 | £29,970 | £15.34 | £23.01 | £30.68 |
| Band 6 | £37,338 | £19.11 | £28.67 | £38.22 |
| Band 7 | £46,148 | £23.62 | £35.43 | £47.24 |
| Band 8a | £53,755 | £27.51 | Not entitled to overtime under AfC | |
Hourly rates calculated as: annual salary / 1,957.5 hours (37.5hrs x 52.14 weeks). Overtime is calculated on basic salary only, excluding HCAS and other supplements. Bands 8a-9 are generally excluded from overtime under Agenda for Change terms, though unsocial hours enhancements still apply.
Key Considerations
Part-Time Overtime Threshold
Part-time staff only receive overtime rates after exceeding 37.5 hours per week (37 in Scotland), not their contracted hours. Hours between your contract and the full-time threshold are paid at basic rate. However, unsocial hours enhancements apply to all shifts regardless. A Band 5 nurse on 22.5 hours receives basic pay for hours 22.5-37.5, then x1.5 beyond 37.5.
Pension & Tax Impact
All overtime and unsocial hours are pensionable, meaning they build your future pension. However, regular extra shifts may push you into a higher pension contribution tier, increasing your percentage deduction. Extra earnings are also taxed: crossing £50,270 total triggers 40% tax on the excess. Use our NHS Tax Calculator to model the full impact.
On-Call Pay
On-call availability pays approximately 9-10% of your basic hourly rate per hour of availability. When called in, you receive at minimum x1.5 with a minimum 1-hour payment per call-out. Unsocial hours enhancements apply on top if working nights, weekends, or bank holidays during a call-out.
TOIL vs Pay
You can request time off in lieu (TOIL) instead of overtime payment. One hour of Sunday overtime equals two hours of TOIL. Bank holiday shifts attract both double time and a day off in lieu. Discuss TOIL arrangements with your manager before accepting shifts.
HCAS Exclusion
London weighting (HCAS) is explicitly excluded from overtime and unsocial hours calculations. Your enhanced rates are based on basic salary only. However, HCAS is pensionable and counts toward your total annual earnings for tax purposes.
Bank vs Overtime Shifts
NHS bank shifts can claim unsocial hours enhancements and may pay more than standard overtime at certain times. A Sunday bank shift (160% total) beats weekday overtime (150%). Agency shifts often have higher headline rates but typically lack NHS pension contributions. Consider total compensation including pension when comparing.
Frequently Asked Questions
NHS overtime applies only when you work beyond 37.5 hours per week in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (37 hours in Scotland). Weekday and Saturday overtime pays time and a half (x1.5 your basic hourly rate). Sunday and bank holiday overtime pays double time (x2.0). Bank holidays also attract time off in lieu. Overtime is calculated on basic salary only, excluding HCAS, recruitment and retention premia, and other supplements. Part-time staff must exceed the full-time threshold to qualify. Bands 8a and above are generally not entitled to overtime under Agenda for Change.
Unsocial hours enhancements reward staff working antisocial shifts within their contracted hours. Rates vary by band: Band 2 receives +41% for nights and Saturdays and +88% for Sundays and bank holidays (the highest percentages to compensate for lower basic pay). Band 3 receives +37% and +74%. Bands 4 through 9 all receive +30% for nights/Saturdays and +68% for Sundays/bank holidays. Weekday evening shifts (after 8pm) also qualify for night enhancement. The half-shift rule means if more than half your weekday shift falls within unsocial hours, the entire shift qualifies for enhancement.
Yes, enhancements combine when shifts span multiple unsocial categories. For Bands 4-9: Saturday night attracts +30% (night) plus +30% (Saturday) for +60% total, meaning you earn 160% of basic pay. Sunday night attracts +30% (night) plus +68% (Sunday) for +98% total, meaning you earn 198% of basic pay. Band 2 stacking is even higher: Sunday nights reach +129% total (41%+88%), paying more than double the basic rate. Bank holiday nights also stack at +98% plus TOIL. Some Trusts may cap stacked enhancements, so check your local agreement.
Yes, all overtime and unsocial hours payments are pensionable. They count toward both your contribution total and your future pension benefits in the 2015 CARE Scheme. However, regular overtime may push your total pensionable pay into a higher contribution tier. For example, a Band 5 nurse earning £29,970 basic pays 8.3% pension, but if regular overtime pushes total pay above £33,869, they move to the 9.8% tier. Both types are also subject to Income Tax and National Insurance, so approximately 30-38% of gross enhancement pay goes to deductions. Use our NHS Pension Calculator to understand the long-term benefit.
Part-time staff only receive overtime rates after exceeding the full-time weekly hours: 37.5 in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, or 37 in Scotland. Hours between your contracted hours and the full-time threshold are paid at your basic rate with no overtime multiplier. However, unsocial hours enhancements apply regardless. For example, a Band 5 nurse on 22.5 hours working a Saturday shift receives Saturday enhancement (+30%) on those hours even though it is not overtime. If she works beyond 37.5 hours total that week, those additional hours attract x1.5 overtime on top.
Double time equals twice your basic hourly rate and applies to Sunday and bank holiday overtime. Band 5 entry: £30.68/hr (2x £15.34). Band 6 entry: £38.22/hr. Band 7 entry: £47.24/hr. Bank holidays also include TOIL, making them the most valuable shift type overall. A 12-hour bank holiday overtime shift for Band 5 earns approximately £368 gross (£250 take-home after deductions), plus a day off in lieu. Sunday overtime is equally well paid but without the TOIL entitlement.
No. HCAS (London weighting) is explicitly excluded from overtime and unsocial hours calculations under Agenda for Change. Your enhanced rates are based on basic salary only. However, HCAS is pensionable income and counts toward your total annual earnings for tax purposes. This means a London nurse's overtime hourly rate is identical to a nurse on the same band outside London, even though their total monthly take-home is higher due to HCAS being added separately.
Related Calculators
Know Your Worth Before Accepting That Next Shift
Extra shifts are only worth doing if you know what you will actually take home. Our calculator shows the real figure after tax, NI, and pension so you can make informed decisions about your time.