Holiday Entitlement When Starting Mid-Year
Start a job part-way through the leave year and your holiday is pro rated from your start date. Enter your dates to see exactly what you accrue — and check your employer's arithmetic.
Mid-year starter calculator
Holiday accrued in your first year
21.1 days
75.3% of the leave year (275 of 365 days)
Quick answer: a mid-year starter accrues holiday from day one, pro rated: 28 × days remaining in the leave year ÷ 365. Starting on 1 April in a January–December leave year gives 21.08 days for the rest of that year.
Two ways employers calculate it
| Method | Formula | Start 1 April, 28-day entitlement |
|---|---|---|
| Days-based | 28 × 275 ÷ 365 | 21.08 days |
| Months-based | 28 × 9 ÷ 12 | 21 days |
| Accrual per month | 2.33 days × 9 months | 20.97 days |
All three are broadly lawful as long as the result never falls below the statutory minimum and rounding is in the worker's favour. The days-based calculation is the most common and the one to quote if you are querying a shortfall.
Worked examples through the year
| Start date (2026, Jan–Dec leave year) | Days accrued | Weeks of leave |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | 28.00 | 5.6 |
| 1 April | 21.1 | 4.2 |
| 1 July | 14.03 | 2.8 |
| 1 October | 6.99 | 1.4 |
Can I take leave before I have accrued it?
Many employers let you take holiday before it is fully accrued — it is a contractual choice, not a legal right. What the law does require is that leave accrues from your first day even during a probation period, so you cannot be denied holiday for the first three months on legal grounds.
Frequently asked questions
How is holiday calculated if I start mid-year?
Pro rata by the fraction of the leave year you are employed: entitlement × days employed ÷ days in the leave year.
Do I get holiday during my probation period?
Yes. Holiday accrues from your first day. Your employer may restrict when you take it, but not whether it accrues.
Is my leave year January to December?
Not necessarily — it is whatever your contract says, and 6 April to 5 April is common because it aligns with the tax year. Ask HR if you are unsure, because it changes the pro rata figure.
What if my employer says I get no holiday until I pass probation?
That is unlawful for statutory holiday. Accrual starts on day one; only the timing of when you can book leave is negotiable.
Does this work for changing jobs mid-year?
Yes — you leave one employer with a part-year entitlement and start again with a new employer from your new start date. See the leaving-a-job calculator for the other half.