Annual leave calculator (in hours)
This calculator works out your annual leave entitlement in hours from your weekly working time and the leave allowance in weeks. Since 2021, holiday leave in the Czech Republic has been tracked and taken in hours, not days. It is useful for employees on full-time and part-time contracts who want to check how many hours of paid leave they are entitled to per year and convert it roughly into days.
How annual leave is calculated
Since 1 January 2021, the Czech Labour Code calculates leave in hours. You get your annual entitlement by multiplying your weekly working time (the number of hours you are due to work per week) by the leave allowance expressed in weeks. The statutory minimum is 4 weeks, the public sector has 5 weeks, and an employer may grant more.
Entitlement (hours/year) = weekly hours × leave allowance (weeks)
For a rough conversion into days, the annual hours are divided by the length of an average shift. The calculator treats a shift as one fifth of the weekly hours (a standard five-day week):
- Take your weekly working time in hours (e.g. 40 h).
- Multiply by the leave allowance in weeks (e.g. 4).
- The result is your annual entitlement in hours.
- Divide by the length of one shift (weekly hours ÷ 5) to get the approximate number of days.
Worked example step by step
A full-time employee working 40 hours a week with the statutory allowance of 4 weeks of leave:
| Step | Item | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Weekly working time | entered | 40 h |
| 2 | Leave allowance | entered | 4 weeks |
| 3 | Annual entitlement | 40 × 4 | 160 h |
| 4 | Length of one shift | 40 ÷ 5 | 8 h |
| 5 | Approx. days | 160 ÷ 8 | ≈ 20 days |
The employee is entitled to 160 hours of leave per year, which at eight-hour shifts equals 20 days off. With a contractual 5 weeks, the entitlement would be 200 hours (25 days).
What affects the result
- Weekly working time — a part-time contract (e.g. 20 h) proportionally reduces the hourly entitlement, but the number of days stays the same because the shift length is shortened too.
- Leave allowance — the statutory minimum is 4 weeks, the public sector has 5 weeks, and a collective agreement or employer may add more.
- Length of service — full annual entitlement arises after 52 weeks worked; if you start during the year, the entitlement is reduced proportionally.
- Unevenly scheduled working time — for anything other than a five-day week, the conversion into days differs.
When the leave calculation helps and what to watch out for
The calculator is ideal for a quick overview of your annual entitlement and its conversion into days. However, it does not account for proportional reductions when you start or leave mid-year, reductions for unexcused absence, additional leave, carrying over unused leave, or rounding of hours under an employer's internal rules. Treating a shift as one fifth of the weekly hours applies to an evenly scheduled five-day week. Take the result as indicative; the binding entitlement is set by the payroll office under the Labour Code and the record of hours worked.
⚠️ Indicative calculation, rates current for 2026. Not a substitute for an accountant or tax advisor — verify important decisions with the Czech Financial Administration.
FAQ
How many hours of leave do I get with a 40 h week and 4 weeks?
The annual entitlement is 160 hours (40 × 4), which at eight-hour shifts equals about 20 days off.
Why is leave calculated in hours?
Since 1 January 2021, the Labour Code stipulates that leave entitlement is measured and taken in hours. This is fairer for employees with uneven or shortened shifts.
What is the statutory minimum leave?
The basic allowance is 4 weeks per calendar year. Employees in the public and state sector get 5 weeks, and teaching and academic staff up to 8 weeks.
How is leave calculated for a part-time contract?
You multiply the shorter weekly hours by the number of allowance weeks. With a 20 h week and 4 weeks, that gives 80 hours. The number of days off stays the same as full-time because the shift length is also shortened.
Do I get the full entitlement if I start mid-year?
No. The full annual entitlement arises after 52 weeks worked for one employer. If you start during the year, leave is reduced proportionally by the number of full weeks worked.
Do I have to use up all my leave in the given year?
The employer must schedule your leave so that you use it in the year the entitlement arose. Any unused part can be carried into the next year under the conditions set by the Labour Code.
How do I convert hours back into days?
Divide the annual hours by the length of your shift. At eight-hour shifts, 160 hours equals 20 days and 200 hours equals 25 days.
Does the calculation include holidays and weekends?
No. The calculator counts only the pure leave entitlement. Rest days (public holidays, weekends) are not deducted from leave.
Sources & legislation
📅 Last updated: 11 July 2026