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NHS Unsocial Hours Calculator
Free NHS unsocial hours calculator: enter your band and hours to price nights, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays using the 2026/27 enhancement rates.
Quick answer: Choose your band and pay point, enter the hours you work on Saturdays and weekday nights, and on Sundays and public holidays, and the calculator adds the enhancement to your plain pay. At Band 5 entry the plain rate is £16.40, a Saturday or night hour pays £21.32 and a Sunday or public holiday hour pays £26.24.
Unsocial hours enhancements can add hundreds of pounds a month to an NHS wage, but the payslip lines are hard to check. This calculator turns a rota into pounds so you can see whether the figure on your payslip adds up.
How to use the unsocial hours calculator
- Pick your band and pay point. The plain hourly rate is set from the 2026/27 pay scale.
- Enter hours on Saturdays or weekday nights. That means Saturday at any time and Monday to Friday between 8pm and 6am.
- Enter hours on Sundays or public holidays. These attract the higher percentage.
- Add plain-rate hours if you want to see your total pay for the period.
- Read the result. The calculator shows the enhancement and the total before tax.
Enter the hours you are actually paid for, not the hours on the clock. Unpaid breaks come out of the total.
The percentages the calculator uses
| Band | Saturdays and weekday nights | Sundays and public holidays |
|---|---|---|
| Band 1 | +47% | +94% |
| Band 2 | +41% | +83% |
| Band 3 | +35% | +69% |
| Bands 4 to 9 | +30% | +60% |
These are the Section 2 percentages for Agenda for Change staff in England. Read the detail in our unsocial hours pay rates guide.
A worked example
A Band 5 nurse at the entry point works one Sunday day shift of 7.5 paid hours, two Saturday shifts of 7.5 hours and four weeknight shifts of 7.5 hours, in addition to normal weekday hours.
- Sunday: 7.5 x £26.24 = £196.80
- Saturdays: 15 x £21.32 = £319.80
- Weeknights: 30 x £21.32 = £639.60
- Total for these hours: £1,156.20
- Of which enhancement: £295.20
The enhancement is the part above plain pay. After 20% tax and 8% National Insurance, a basic-rate taxpayer keeps about 72p of each £1, so the enhancement of £295.20 is worth £212.54 after deductions.
Hourly rates at the entry point
| Band (entry) | Plain | Saturday or night | Sunday or public holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 2 | £12.92 | £18.22 | £23.64 |
| Band 3 | £13.17 | £17.78 | £22.26 |
| Band 4 | £14.52 | £18.88 | £23.23 |
| Band 5 | £16.40 | £21.32 | £26.24 |
| Band 6 | £20.44 | £26.57 | £32.70 |
| Band 7 | £25.26 | £32.84 | £40.42 |
What the calculator does not include
- Tax and National Insurance. The result is before tax. Use the overtime calculator for the after-tax figure.
- Overtime. Overtime is paid at time and a half or double time, not by these percentages.
- Bank shifts. The trust sets those rates.
- Local variations. Some roles, such as on-call posts or senior salaried roles, are paid on different terms.
Who this calculator is for
Use it to check a payslip line, to compare two rotas or to see what a run of extra weekends is worth. It’s also useful if you’re deciding whether to move to a ward with more night shifts, because it prices the pattern in pounds.
More examples
- Band 2 healthcare assistant, one Sunday shift. 7.5 hours at £23.64 is £177.33, of which £80.43 is enhancement.
- Band 3 phlebotomist, four Saturday shifts. 30 hours at £17.78 is £533.39, of which £138.28 is enhancement.
- Band 6 senior nurse, three weeknights. 22.5 hours at £26.57 is £597.87, of which £137.97 is enhancement.
- Band 7 specialist, one public holiday shift. 7.5 hours at £40.42 is £303.12, of which £113.67 is enhancement.
Why your payslip may not match the result
A calculator gives an estimate under clear assumptions, and a payslip reflects your actual month. Differences usually come from four places.
- Timing. Enhancements, overtime and bank pay may be paid a month in arrears.
- Tax code. Our figures assume 1257L. A different code changes tax.
- Cumulative tax. Payroll works out tax across the year, so one month can differ from another.
- Other deductions. Union fees, parking, salary sacrifice and other agreements aren’t included.
If the gap is more than a few pounds and you can’t explain it, ask payroll to walk through the line. Our payslip guide shows what each line means.
Assumptions and limits
The calculator uses the Section 2 percentages for England and the plain hourly rate for the pay point you choose. It assumes you are paid for the hours you enter. Part-year or part-time contracts can change how trusts pay enhancements, so check your payslip and your trust’s policy.
Frequently asked questions
How is Sunday pay worked out in the NHS?
Sunday pay in the NHS is your plain hourly rate plus 60% for Bands 4 to 9, 69% for Band 3 and 83% for Band 2, in 2026/27. The same percentages apply on public holidays. Enter your band, pay point and hours and the calculator works out the pay for each type of hour.
Is Saturday unsocial hours?
Yes. All day Saturday counts as unsocial hours and attracts the lower percentage: +30% for Bands 4 to 9, +35% for Band 3 and +41% for Band 2. The percentage is added to your plain hourly rate for each Saturday hour, and the pay is taxable.
What hours count as nights?
Weekday nights count as unsocial hours between 8pm and 6am, Monday to Friday, and attract the lower percentage, +30% for Bands 4 to 9. A 12-hour shift from 7pm to 7am on a weekday has ten enhanced hours, and the calculator lets you enter them separately.
Does this include tax?
No. The result is gross pay before income tax and National Insurance. Unsocial hours pay is taxable, so a basic-rate taxpayer keeps about 72p of each extra £1 before any pension or student loan deduction. Use the take-home calculator to see the effect on a full month.
Do public holidays count as Sundays?
Yes. Public holidays use the higher percentage, the same as Sundays: +60% for Bands 4 to 9, +69% for Band 3 and +83% for Band 2, added to your plain hourly rate. Enter the public holiday hours in the Sunday field of the calculator.
Does the calculator work for Band 8 and above?
The calculator applies the Bands 4 to 9 percentages to any band, but whether your contract pays enhancements at Band 8 and above depends on its terms. Arrangements for senior roles differ, so check with HR or your manager before relying on the result.
Related tools and guides
- NHS unsocial hours pay rates
- Bank shift and overtime calculator
- Healthcare assistant take home pay
- NHS nurse take home pay
Sources
- NHS Employers: Agenda for Change pay and terms
- GOV.UK: Income Tax rates and allowances
- Our own sources and methodology page explains every calculation.
Work out your own take-home pay
Enter your band, pay point and hours in the free NHS take home pay calculator for 2026/27.
