Double-time pay
How double-time pay works in 2026
Double-time is the highest standard premium on an hourly paycheck — twice your regular rate for qualifying hours. Unlike time-and-a-half, it is not required by federal law, but several states and most union contracts mandate it in specific situations, and many employers offer it voluntarily for holidays and extreme schedules.
The 2× rule
Double-time simply means 2.0× your hourly wage. At $25 an hour, each double-time hour pays $50. This calculator lets you stack three pay tiers in one week — regular hours, time-and-a-half overtime, and double-time — to produce a single total weekly gross and an annualized figure.
| Regular rate | Double-time (2×) | 8 DT hours extra |
|---|---|---|
| $20.00 | $40.00 | ~$320 |
| $25.00 | $50.00 | ~$400 |
| $35.00 | $70.00 | ~$560 |
| $50.00 | $100.00 | ~$800 |
Gross double-time premium for 8 hours in a week. Double-time pays twice the regular hourly rate.
Double-time is not taxed at a higher rate
There is no special "double-time tax." Your extra hours are taxed like any other wages. A bigger paycheck can push part of your income into a higher marginal bracket, but only the dollars above the threshold are taxed more — you always keep the majority of every double-time dollar.
Convert your total to take-home
This tool shows gross pay. To see what actually lands in your account, run your annualized figure through the hourly paycheck calculator or the paycheck calculator, and add state tax with your state page. For standard 1.5× overtime, use the overtime pay calculator.
Questions
Double-time pay calculator FAQ
How is double-time pay calculated?
Double-time pays twice your regular hourly rate. If you earn $25 an hour, each double-time hour pays $50. This calculator multiplies your double-time hours by 2 times your rate and adds them to your regular pay and any time-and-a-half overtime for a total weekly gross.
When does double-time pay apply?
Federal law does not require double-time, only time-and-a-half over 40 hours. But some states and union contracts do. California, for example, requires double-time after 12 hours in a single workday and after 8 hours on the seventh consecutive day. Many employers also pay double-time for holidays voluntarily.
Is double-time pay taxed more?
No. Double-time is taxed at the same rates as regular wages — there is no special overtime tax. A large paycheck can have more withheld because part of it falls in a higher marginal bracket, but only the dollars above each threshold are taxed at the higher rate. You still keep the majority of every double-time dollar.
What is double-time on $30 an hour?
At $30 an hour, double-time is $60 per hour. Eight double-time hours would add $480 in gross pay to that week. Use the calculator above to combine your regular hours, any time-and-a-half overtime and your double-time hours into a single weekly gross figure.
- Sources: U.S. Department of Labor — FLSA overtime (1.5× after 40 hrs/week; no federal double-time) · California DLSE — daily double-time rules · IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 · SSA 2026 wage base.
- 🔄 Last updated June 9, 2026 · Tax year 2026
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