Canada Vacation Pay Calculator

About the Canada Vacation Pay Calculator

This Canada vacation pay calculator works out the minimum vacation pay and vacation time you are owed under employment standards law. Most provinces start at two weeks of vacation and 4% vacation pay, rising to three weeks and 6% after five years. The federal Canada Labour Code adds a third step of four weeks and 8% after ten years, Quebec moves to 6% after just three years, Nova Scotia after eight, and Saskatchewan starts at three weeks (3/52, about 5.77%) and rises to four weeks (4/52, about 7.69%) after ten years.

Choose your jurisdiction — federal for banks, airlines, telecoms and other federally regulated employers, otherwise the province where you work — enter your years of service at the end of the vacation year and your gross wages for that year. The calculator returns your vacation pay, the percentage applied, your weeks of vacation and the amount added to each paycheque if your employer pays vacation pay as you go.

It covers federal, Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia rules. These are legal minimums: your contract or collective agreement may give more. What counts as wages differs slightly by jurisdiction (for example, some exclude tips or certain bonuses), so check the rules for unusual pay.

With the default inputs, the vacation pay owed is $2,080.00. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.

How to use the canada vacation pay calculator

1Choose the province where you work, or federal if your employer is federally regulated.
2Enter your completed years of service at the end of the vacation year.
3Enter your gross wages for that year.
4Pick your pay frequency to see vacation pay per paycheque.
5Read your vacation pay, rate and weeks of vacation.

Formula and method

Vacation pay = gross wages for the vacation year × vacation pay %; % depends on jurisdiction and years of service

Vacation pay is a percentage of the gross wages earned in the 12-month vacation entitlement year, excluding previous vacation pay. The percentage matches the weeks of vacation: two weeks is 4%, three weeks is 6% and four weeks is 8% (in Saskatchewan the fractions are 3/52 and 4/52 of wages). The rate that applies depends on your completed years of service at the end of the year in which the vacation pay was earned.

This calculator uses: Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba — 4% and 2 weeks, then 6% and 3 weeks from 5 years; Quebec — 6% and 3 weeks from 3 years; Nova Scotia — 6% from the eighth year and 3 weeks after 8 years; federal — 6% and 3 weeks after 5 years and 8% and 4 weeks after 10 years; Saskatchewan — 3 weeks (5.77%) and 4 weeks (7.69%) after 10 years. Pay per week of vacation is the vacation pay divided by the weeks of vacation.

Gross wages: Wages earned in the vacation year, excluding vacation pay
%: 4%, 6%, 8%, or 3/52 and 4/52 in Saskatchewan

Worked examples

Ontario, 3 years, $52,000

With less than five years in Ontario the minimum is 4% and two weeks. 4% of $52,000 is $2,080, or $1,040 per week of vacation, or $80 added to each of 26 bi-weekly cheques if paid as you go.

British Columbia, 6 years, $60,000

After five years BC gives three weeks of vacation at 6%. 6% of $60,000 is $3,600.

Saskatchewan, 2 years, $50,000

Saskatchewan gives three weeks from the start, paid at 3/52 of wages: $50,000 × 3 ÷ 52 = $2,884.62.

Federal employee, 12 years, $70,000

Under the Canada Labour Code, ten or more years earns four weeks at 8%. 8% of $70,000 is $5,600, about $233 per semi-monthly cheque.

Frequently asked questions

Is vacation pay 4% in Canada?+

For most employees with less than five years of service, yes — 4% of gross wages with two weeks of vacation. Saskatchewan starts higher at 3/52 (about 5.77%) with three weeks.

When does vacation pay go up to 6%?+

After five years in Ontario, BC, Alberta, Manitoba and under federal rules; after three years in Quebec; and from the eighth year in Nova Scotia. Federal employees get 8% after ten years.

Can vacation pay be added to every paycheque?+

Yes, in most provinces vacation pay can be paid on each cheque if the employee agrees or the practice is allowed, but the employee must still be given the vacation time off.

Do part-time and casual workers get vacation pay?+

Yes. Vacation pay is earned on all wages from the first hour worked, whether you are full-time, part-time, casual or seasonal.

Is vacation pay paid out when I quit?+

Yes. Any vacation pay earned but not yet paid must be included in your final pay when your employment ends, whatever the reason.

Results are general estimates and not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction — consult a qualified attorney.

Sources