Notice Period Calculator
Find out how much notice your employer must give you — and how much you must give — under UK law
Notice Period FAQs
What is the statutory notice period in the UK?
Under the Employment Rights Act 1996, you're entitled to:
- 1 month–2 years: 1 week's notice
- 2–12 years: 1 week per year of service
- 12+ years: 12 weeks' notice (maximum)
Do bank holidays extend my notice period?
Technically, notice is measured in weeks or months, not working days. However, if your notice period ends on a bank holiday, your last working day will typically be the working day before that. Your employer must still pay you for the bank holiday if it's part of your contractual entitlement.
What is garden leave?
Garden leave (or gardening leave) is when your employer asks you to stay away from work during your notice period but continues to pay your full salary and benefits. You remain an employee and are bound by your contract, but you're not required to attend work.
What is payment in lieu of notice (PILON)?
Payment in lieu of notice means your employer pays you your notice pay as a lump sum rather than having you work the notice period. Since April 2018, all PILON payments are subject to income tax and National Insurance, regardless of whether your contract includes a PILON clause.
Enter your employment details to see your notice period entitlement.
Statutory Notice Scale
- 1 month – 2 years: 1 week
- 2 years: 2 weeks
- 5 years: 5 weeks
- 10 years: 10 weeks
- 12+ years: 12 weeks (max)
How to Use the Notice Period Calculator
Our notice period calculator helps you determine your legal minimum notice based on the Employment Rights Act 1996. By entering your start date and leaving (or redundancy) date, the tool calculates your total length of continuous service and the corresponding statutory notice weeks.
Accounting for Bank Holidays: When planning your last day, remember that bank holidays can affect your final working date. If your notice period ends on a weekend or bank holiday, your actual last day in the office will be the preceding Friday or working day. However, your official employment end date remains the date the notice period expires.