How Much Holiday Do I Get If I Work 4 Days a Week?
22.4 days a year. That is 5.6 weeks × 4 days. Here is the full working, what happens to bank holidays, and how a 4-day week compares with 3 and 5 days.
Short answer: working 4 days a week gives you 22.4 days of statutory holiday in the UK (4 × 5.6). That is 5.6 weeks of your normal week. If your employer counts the 8 bank holidays inside your allowance, about 6.4 of those days are bank holidays, leaving roughly 16 days for you to choose.
Check your own pattern
Your statutory holiday
22.4
4 days/week × 5.6 weeks = 22.4 days
The maths, in one line
4 days × 5.6 weeks = 22.4 days
Statutory holiday is always 5.6 weeks, never a fixed 28 days for everyone. The 28-day headline figure applies only to a 5-day week. Whatever your pattern, you get 5.6 of your own working weeks as paid leave.
In hours, if you prefer
If you work 4 days of 8 hours (32 hours a week), your entitlement is 32 × 5.6 = 179.2 hours — the same 22.4 days. Hours are often easier for irregular shift patterns because a "day" varies in length.
How 4 days compares
| Pattern | Annual holiday | Weeks | Bank holidays (pro rata) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 days | 28 days | 5.6 | 8.0 |
| 4.5 days | 25.2 days | 5.6 | 7.2 |
| 4 days | 22.4 days | 5.6 | 6.4 |
| 3 days | 16.8 days | 5.6 | 4.8 |
What about bank holidays on a 4-day week?
Two lawful approaches exist:
- Bank holidays included in the 22.4 days — you get 6.4 days' worth of bank holiday pro rata, which in practice means your employer gives you the equivalent as flexible days.
- Bank holidays on top — 22.4 days plus your share of the 8 bank holidays. More generous, and common in the public sector.
What is not lawful is a 4-day worker getting only the bank holidays that happen to fall on their working days, ending up with less than 5.6 weeks in total.
Frequently asked questions
How much holiday do I get working 4 days a week?
22.4 days a year — 5.6 weeks of 4 days. If bank holidays are included, roughly 6.4 of those days are bank holidays.
Do I get 28 days if I work 4 days a week?
No. 28 days is the maximum for a 5-day week. A 4-day week is 22.4 days, which is the same amount of time off in weeks.
Can my employer round 22.4 days down to 22?
Rounding is only acceptable if it is consistently in your favour. Rounding down breaks the 5.6-week minimum.
How many hours is 22.4 days of holiday?
If your normal day is 8 hours, 179.2 hours. Multiply your weekly hours by 5.6 for the hours figure.
Does a 4-day week affect my holiday if I start mid-year?
Yes — the 22.4 days are then pro rated by the fraction of the leave year you work. Use the mid-year starter calculator.