Regular Time, Overtime, and Double Time
Most hourly pay starts with regular time: hours paid at your normal hourly rate. Overtime usually means hours paid at a higher multiplier, often 1.5 times the regular rate.
Double time is a separate pay tier. Instead of 1.5 times your rate, double time is 2 times your regular hourly rate. If you earn $20 per hour, double time is $40 per hour.
Example Double-Time Calculation
Say your regular rate is $20 per hour. Your daily rules pay 8 regular hours, 4 overtime hours, and anything after 12 hours as double time.
If you work a 14-hour shift, the estimate is 8 hours at $20, 4 hours at $30, and 2 hours at $40. That comes to $160 regular pay, $120 overtime pay, and $80 double-time pay, or $360 gross for the shift.
Why Manual Math Gets Confusing
Double time is easy when you have one long shift. It gets harder when you have multiple shifts, weekly overtime, different jobs, or different thresholds.
If you track only total hours, you may not know which hours were regular, overtime, or double time. A useful record keeps each pay tier visible.
What to Check Before You Trust the Number
Double-time rules can come from state law, employer policy, a union agreement, or a specific contract. Do not assume every job uses the same threshold.
Use a calculator for planning, then compare the final number against your pay stub and the official rules that apply to your job.
- Regular hourly rate
- Daily overtime threshold
- Weekly overtime threshold
- Double-time threshold
- Overtime and double-time multipliers
- Whether rules are per day, per week, or per job
Shift Log+ can track regular time, overtime, double time, pay periods, and separate rules for each job.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is double time pay?
Double time pay means hours are paid at two times your regular hourly rate. It may apply under some state rules, employer policies, or union agreements.
Does weekly overtime always include double time?
No. Weekly overtime commonly pays time and a half after a threshold such as 40 hours. Double time is separate and depends on the rules that apply to your job.
Can Shift Log+ track double time?
Yes. Shift Log+ lets you configure double-time thresholds and multipliers for each job.