Updated · Apr 2026
Topic Hub · Public holiday pay

Public Holiday Pay Calculator Australia.

Calculate public holiday penalty rates by state and award. 2026 holiday calendar, substitute days, and penalty rate scenarios for every Australian state.

✓ Free, no sign-up|Live|Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) s.114

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Standard FT week is 38 hours.
$
For loading & payout values.
Standard FT is 5. Compressed/4-day weeks change the daily figure.

Here's your entitlement

13
Public holidays in NSW for 2026.
9
Weekday holidays
6 × Monday
Most common day
$266
Pay per day off
See full calculationFair Work Act 2009 (Cth) s.114
ComponentFormulaValue
New Year's DayThursday1 January
Australia DayMonday26 January
Good FridayFriday3 April
Easter SaturdaySaturday4 April
Easter SundaySunday5 April
Easter MondayMonday6 April
Anzac DaySaturday25 April
Additional Anzac Day public holidayMonday27 April
King's BirthdayMonday8 June
Labour DayMonday5 October
Christmas DayFriday25 December
Boxing DaySaturday26 December
Additional Boxing Day public holidayMonday28 December

ⓘ 2026 calendar for New South Wales. Source: state public holiday legislation. Dates verified against state government and Fair Work Ombudsman.

Sarah Reid, CAHRI
Reviewed bySarah Reid, CAHRICert IV Payroll · Sydney based
Verified expert

Disclaimer: This tool does not constitute legal or financial advice. Results may be inaccurate due to changes in legislation or your circumstances. This tool does not constitute legal or financial advice. We do not recommend taking actions based solely on these results. The calculator makes assumptions and results may be inaccurate due to changes in legislation, modern awards, or your personal circumstances. You use this information at your own risk. We can't guarantee to be perfect, so do note you use the information at your own risk and we can't accept liability if things go wrong. For official guidance, visit Fair Work Ombudsman (fairwork.gov.au). Fair Work Ombudsman.

Public holiday pay Snapshot

Three numbers that define this entitlement.

Every figure derived from current legislation.

NES Entitlement
4wks/yr
For FT & PT
Set by the relevant statute.
Accrual rate
2.923hrs/wk
For 38-hr FT week
152 hrs over 52 weeks.
Loading
17.5%
On top of base pay
Award-dependent.
By State

Public holiday pay, by state.

Federal entitlement is identical Australia-wide. State pages cover state-specific details.

NSWNew South Wales
LSL trigger10 yrs
Pro-rata5 yrs
Holidays13
Calculate leave VICVictoria
LSL trigger7 yrs
Pro-rata7 yrs
Holidays14
Calculate leave QLDQueensland
LSL trigger10 yrs
Pro-rata7 yrs
Holidays13
Calculate leave WAWestern Australia
LSL trigger10 yrs
Pro-rata7 yrs
Holidays13
Calculate leave SASouth Australia
LSL trigger10 yrs
Pro-rata7 yrs
Holidays13
Calculate leave TASTasmania
LSL trigger10 yrs
Pro-rata7 yrs
Holidays9
Calculate leave NTNorthern Territory
LSL trigger10 yrs
Pro-rata7 yrs
Holidays13
Calculate leave ACTAustralian Capital Territory
LSL trigger7 yrs
Pro-rata5 yrs
Holidays15
Calculate leave
Q & A

Public holiday pay questions.

The most-asked questions about this entitlement.

How many public holidays are there in Australia?
7 days are nationally recognised: New Year's Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Every state and territory gazettes additional days, taking the total per state from 9 (TAS) to 15 (ACT) in 2026.
Do I get penalty rates for working a public holiday?
Almost always yes — the rate depends on your award. Most awards pay 200%-250% (i.e. 2-2.5x base rate) for hours worked on a gazetted public holiday. A small number absorb public-holiday work in an annualised salary instead. Calculate your public-holiday rate →
Can I refuse to work on a public holiday?
Yes, under s.114 of the Fair Work Act. You can refuse a request to work a public holiday if the request is unreasonable or your refusal is reasonable. Factors include the work's nature, your personal circumstances, the type of employment and notice given.
What happens when a public holiday falls on a weekend?
Most states gazette a substitute weekday (usually the following Monday). The substitute IS the public holiday for legal purposes — penalty rates apply on the substitute, not the calendar date. Some states gazette both days for Anzac Day and Boxing Day.
Do casuals get paid public holidays?
Casuals don't get paid for public holidays they don't work. If they DO work a public holiday, they get the public-holiday penalty rate (which already includes their casual loading) under their award.
Does annual leave include public holidays?
No, public holidays don't come out of your annual leave balance. If a public holiday falls during your annual leave, that day is paid as a public holiday and your annual leave is extended/preserved by one day.
Public holiday pay Methodology

Built on Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) s.114.

Every public holiday pay calculation on this page is built directly from Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) s.114 and the relevant modern award where applicable.

Reviewed by a registered HR practitioner.

Last reviewed25 Apr 2026
ReviewerSarah Reid, CAHRI
Primary sourceFair Work Act 2009 (Cth) s.114
RefreshQuarterly