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Leave Calculator

Calculate your Australian leave entitlements quickly and easily.

Our free calculator helps you work out:

Calculations based on legislation as of January 2026 and are subject to change.

⚙️ Assumptions:
  • Based on Australian Fair Work National Employment Standards
  • Leave calculation is based on full time employee working 38 hours per week (7.6 hours per day, 5 days per week regular hours), accruing 2.923 hours for every week worked.
  • Assumes continuous paid employment with no breaks in service.
  • Assumes no leave without pay taken.
  • Assumes the employee is not a trainee, apprentice, or shift worker.
  • Assumes no leave loading (calculation shows hours/days only, not dollar amounts).
  • Does not account for changes in work patterns (e.g., switching from full-time to part-time during the period).
⚠️ This is an estimate only based on legislation as of January 2026. Legislation is subject to change. Please verify your actual entitlement with your employer, payroll department, or accountant. No liability or responsibility for any errors. Contact: info [at] leavecalculator [dot] com for discrepancies.
⚙️ Calculation Assumptions
  • Continuous employment: Assumes uninterrupted service with the same employer. Breaks in service are not accounted for.
  • Permanent employees only: This calculator is for permanent full-time and part-time employees. Casual employees are excluded.
  • Consistent work patterns: Assumes hours have remained constant throughout employment. Does not account for changes in work patterns (e.g., switching from full-time to part-time, or varying part-time hours).
  • Part-time calculations: Entitlements calculated proportionally (hours worked ÷ 38). This is a "current snapshot" estimate based on specified hours. If your hours have varied, actual entitlement may differ.
  • Standard industry: Assumes standard employment conditions. Special rules apply for construction, building, cleaning, and other portable scheme industries (not covered by this calculator).
  • Ordinary hours: Calculations based on ordinary working hours, not including overtime.
  • NSW payment calculations: When hours have fluctuated, NSW law uses the higher of: average hours over last 12 months OR last 5 years. This calculator assumes consistent hours.
  • Victoria unpaid leave: Since the Long Service Leave Act 2018 (Vic), most unpaid leave periods up to 52 weeks count toward total service. This calculator assumes continuous paid employment.
  • Current legislation: Based on state/territory long service leave laws as of January 2026. Legislation is subject to change.
  • Pro-rata conditions: Pro-rata entitlements shown are based on typical conditions. Your specific circumstances may vary (especially NSW 5-10 year period).
⚠️ This is an estimate only. Please verify your actual entitlement with your employer, payroll department, or accountant. This calculator does not constitute financial or legal advice. Calculations are based on legislation as of January 2026 and are subject to change.
📚 Official Resources & Further Information

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What if I'm a casual employee?
Casual employees generally don't accrue annual leave or long service leave in most states. Instead, they receive a casual loading (typically 25%) on top of their hourly rate to compensate for the lack of leave entitlements. Some states have specific schemes for casual workers in certain industries (e.g., building and construction portable LSL schemes).
Does parental leave or unpaid leave affect my calculations?
For annual leave: Unpaid leave periods generally don't accrue annual leave. Our calculator assumes continuous paid employment.

For long service leave: This varies by state. In Victoria (since 2018), most unpaid leave up to 52 weeks counts toward your total service. In most other states, paid parental leave counts as service, but unpaid parental leave may or may not count depending on the duration and state rules. For accurate calculations with extended unpaid leave periods, consult your HR department.
What if my hours have changed (e.g., from full-time to part-time)?
This calculator assumes consistent work hours throughout your employment period. If your hours have changed significantly (e.g., started full-time, then went part-time), your actual entitlement may differ from the estimate shown. For NSW employees specifically, payment calculations use the higher of: your average hours over the last 12 months OR the last 5 years. For the most accurate calculation when hours have varied, consult your employer's payroll department.
What happens if I change employers?
Annual leave must be paid out when you leave employment. Long service leave depends on whether you've met the eligibility threshold and pro-rata requirements in your state. LSL doesn't transfer between employers (except in portable LSL schemes for specific industries like construction). You start accruing fresh LSL with your new employer from day one.
How accurate is this calculator?
This calculator provides estimates based on standard Fair Work rules (for annual leave) and state legislation as of January 2026 (for LSL). Your actual entitlement may vary based on: enterprise agreements, modern awards, employment contracts, breaks in service, changes in work patterns, or special circumstances. Always verify with your employer or payroll department for exact figures.
What if I work in construction or building?
Construction, building, cleaning, and some other industries have portable long service leave schemes (like CoINVEST in Victoria, Long Service Corporation in NSW, QLeave in Queensland). These schemes work differently and allow you to accumulate LSL across multiple employers in the industry. This calculator doesn't cover portable schemes - contact your industry's LSL authority for details.
Can my employer refuse to pay out my LSL when I resign? (NSW Specific)
It depends on your state and years of service. Each state has different pro-rata thresholds for voluntary resignation.

NSW 5-10 years: This is the most restrictive. If you resign voluntarily (e.g., for another job or career change), you get NOTHING. Pro-rata is only payable if employment ends due to: employer termination, illness/incapacity, domestic necessity, or death.

NSW 10+ years: Once you reach 10 years, LSL is payable regardless of reason for leaving.

Other states: Check the pro-rata scenarios in your calculation results.
What is leave loading and is it included?
Leave loading is an extra 17.5% payment on top of annual leave (when taken) for many award-covered employees. Our annual leave calculator shows hours/days only, not dollar amounts, so leave loading isn't included. Check your award or enterprise agreement to see if you're entitled to leave loading.
Is this calculator up to date with current legislation?
Yes. This calculator is based on legislation as of January 2026. However, employment laws can change. We recommend verifying calculations with official sources and your employer, especially for critical decisions. If you notice any discrepancies or changes in legislation, please contact us at info [at] leavecalculator [dot] com.