Double time means two times the ordinary hourly rate. It appears in many Australian awards for later overtime hours, Sunday work, public holidays or work outside specific roster limits.
The quickest estimate is simple: base hourly rate multiplied by 2 multiplied by hours at double time. For mixed shifts, calculate ordinary, time-and-a-half and double-time hours separately.
Double time formula
If your base hourly rate is $35, double time is $70 per hour. If four hours of a shift are paid at double time, that part of the shift is worth $280 before tax. If the same shift also includes ordinary or time-and-a-half hours, add those separately.
Some awards step overtime rates. For example, the first two overtime hours might be time and a half, then later hours might be double time. The exact break point is award-specific.
Common double time situations
- Later overtime hours after an initial time-and-a-half period.
- Sunday shifts under awards that set Sundays at 200 percent.
- Public holiday work under some awards and agreements.
- Work on a rostered day off or outside ordinary hours.
The phrase double time is familiar, but it is not a universal entitlement. Always match the phrase to the clause in the relevant award or agreement before using it in a pay dispute.
Related calculators and guides
Common questions
What is double time for $30 an hour?
Double time for $30 an hour is $60 an hour.
Is Sunday double time?
Sometimes. Some awards use double time for Sunday work, while others use different Sunday penalty rates.
Is double time before or after tax?
Double time describes the gross hourly rate before tax is withheld.
Worked example using this guide
Example: $34 base rate with 5 hours at double time. The estimate is $34 x 2 x 5 = $340 before tax. Use this as a gross-pay sense check, then compare it with the exact award, agreement or payroll rate that applies to the job.
If the shift includes more than one pay type, split it into separate lines before calculating. Ordinary hours, overtime, Sunday work and public holiday work can all use different multipliers. This is also why a payslip with a single blended hourly amount is harder to audit than a payslip that separates hours and rates.
For the fastest cross-check, open the overtime calculator, Sunday rates calculator, public holiday pay calculator or time and a half calculator in another tab and enter the same base rate and hours.