Ontario Vacation Pay Calculator (2026)
Ontario's Employment Standards Act sets vacation pay at 4% of gross wages under five years of employment and 6% at five years or more. Enter what you earned and your years of service to see the vacation pay owed — and the vacation time that goes with it.
Vacation pay owed
$0
How Ontario vacation pay works
Vacation pay is a percentage of the gross wages you earned during your vacation entitlement year — the 12-month period over which you accrue vacation. The rate is at least 4% if you have less than five years of employment and at least 6% once you hit five years. On $50,000 of earnings that's $2,000 or $3,000 respectively. These are floors: a contract or collective agreement can give more, never less.
You earn vacation pay on your wages as you earn them — even one hour of work accrues 4% (or 6%) of that hour's pay. That's why you're owed vacation pay on a final paycheque even if you leave before completing a full year, though you'd need to finish the year to be entitled to the vacation time itself.
The five-year jump, and what counts as wages
The move from 4% to 6% happens at five years of employment with the same employer, and it comes with an extra week of time off — two weeks under five years, three weeks at five or more:
- Under 5 years: 4% vacation pay + 2 weeks vacation time.
- 5 years or more: 6% vacation pay + 3 weeks vacation time.
"Gross wages" is broad: regular pay, overtime, commissions, public-holiday pay and non-discretionary bonuses all count. What's excluded is vacation pay itself — you don't earn vacation pay on vacation pay — plus tips paid directly by customers and purely discretionary bonuses. Note the two entitlements are separate: vacation time is the weeks off; vacation pay is the money, and this calculator works out the money.
Common questions
How much is vacation pay in Ontario?
At least 4% of gross wages under five years of employment, and at least 6% at five years or more. On $50,000 that's $2,000 or $3,000. A contract can give more, not less.
When does it go from 4% to 6%?
At five years with the same employer. Under five years: 4% and two weeks off. Five years or more: 6% and three weeks off.
What counts as gross wages?
Regular wages, overtime, commissions, public-holiday pay and non-discretionary bonuses. Excluded: vacation pay itself, tips paid directly by customers, and discretionary bonuses.
Is vacation pay the same as vacation time?
No. Vacation time is the weeks off (2 or 3); vacation pay is the 4% or 6% money for that time. You accrue the pay on all wages as you earn them.