generalholiday

Holiday entitlement — the UK statutory minimum

5.6 weeks per year, capped at 28 days for a 5-day-a-week worker. Public holidays may be included.

Last reviewed: 27 May 2026 by panel solicitor2 min read

The short answer

You get 5.6 weeks of paid leave per year (28 days for a 5-day-a-week worker, capped). Part-timers get the same 5.6 weeks pro-rated.

Statutory minimum: 5.6 weeks

The UK statutory minimum holiday entitlement is 5.6 weeks per year (Working Time Regulations 1998, regulation 13 and 13A).

For a worker who works 5 days a week, that's 28 days (capped). Part-time workers get the same 5.6 weeks of their normal working pattern.

Bank holidays

There is no separate statutory right to bank holidays. Many employers include the 8 bank holidays inside the 5.6-week entitlement — check your contract.

Carrying leave over

You can carry over up to 1.6 weeks of leave (the additional 8 days) into the next leave year if your employer agrees. Statutory 4 weeks must be taken in the leave year.

On termination

Untaken holiday must be paid out at termination.

What to do this week

Run our holiday calculator with your actual working pattern — if your employer is offering less, send a payslip-and-rota copy to ACAS.

Sources

Working Time Regulations 1998 — sections 13, 28 Read on legislation.gov.uk

Last reviewed 27 May 2026 by an SRA-authorised solicitor on our panel.

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