Overtime (time and a half) pays 1.5× your regular rate and is required by federal law for hours over 40 in a workweek. Double time pays 2× your regular rate and is required only by certain state laws or by an employer agreement — never by the FLSA. That single distinction explains most confusion about premium pay.
Side by side
| Time and a half (overtime) | Double time | |
|---|---|---|
| Multiplier | 1.5× | 2× |
| Required by | Federal FLSA | State law or contract only |
| Trigger | Over 40 hours/workweek | E.g. over 12 hours/day (CA) |
| Rate on $20/hr | $30.00 | $40.00 |
| Rate on $30/hr | $45.00 | $60.00 |
When does double time apply?
Because federal law tops out at time and a half, double time only appears when a stronger rule exists:
- California — 2× after 12 hours in a workday, and after 8 hours on the 7th consecutive day of a workweek. This is the main source of legally-required double time in the US.
- Union contracts — many collective bargaining agreements specify double time for Sundays, holidays or excessive hours.
- Company policy — employers may voluntarily pay double time for holidays; it’s a benefit, not a mandate.
A California day that hits both
Picture a 13-hour day in California at $20/hour:
| Hours | Type | Rate | Pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–8 | Regular | $20 | $160 |
| 9–12 | Overtime (1.5×) | $30 | $120 |
| 13 | Double time (2×) | $40 | $40 |
| Total | $320 |
The California overtime calculator builds this from your daily hours automatically; the double time calculator lets you enter the hours directly.
The tax wrinkle (2025–2028)
The new No Tax on Overtime deduction covers only the premium “half” of FLSA-required time and a half. State-mandated double time, and overtime owed only under state law, generally do not qualify for the federal deduction — an important detail for California workers in particular.
Bottom line
If someone promises “double time and a half,” they mean 2.5× — a policy term, not a federal requirement. Federally, the only guaranteed premium is 1.5× over 40 hours a week. Everything richer than that is your state or your employer being more generous than the law requires.