Maximum working time in the United Kingdom (2026)

Last reviewed: 9 October 2026

In short: The average working week may not exceed 48 hours over 17 weeks unless the worker agrees in writing to opt out. Workers are entitled to 11 hours of daily rest and 24 hours of weekly rest, or 48 hours per fortnight.

RuleWhat applies
Maximum average weekly working timeEmployees (adults) in general employment; Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales)48 hours [1]
Maximum daily working timeEmployees (adults) in general employment; Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales)⚠ Not yet verified
Minimum daily restEmployees (adults) in general employment; Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales)11 hours [2]
Minimum weekly restEmployees (adults) in general employment; Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales)An uninterrupted rest period of at least 24 hours in each seven-day period. The employer may instead give two rest periods of at least 24 hours, or one of at least 48 hours, in each 14-day period. [3]
Normal full-time working weekEmployees (adults) in general employment; Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales)⚠ Not yet verified
Individual opt-out from the weekly maximumEmployees (adults) in general employment; Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales)A worker may agree in writing to work more than the 48-hour average. The agreement may be for a set period or open-ended and the worker can end it by giving at least 7 days' written notice, unless the agreement sets a longer notice of up to 3 months. [4]

Notes

  • The reference period can be changed by agreement and is different for some workers. The rule covers a worker's working time including overtime.
  • The sources read state no general daily maximum for adults, but this absence was not confirmed in the regulations themselves. Night workers and young workers have their own limits.
  • Young workers are entitled to 12 consecutive hours. The rule can be modified for some kinds of work.
  • Young workers are entitled to 48 hours in each seven-day period.
  • The GOV.UK page on weekly hours states no normal or full-time week, and the regulations read set none.
  • The regulations applied here are for Great Britain. Northern Ireland has its own regulations and is not covered. The opt-out is by agreement in writing before the work is done.

Sources

  1. legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives): The Working Time Regulations 1998, regulation 4: Maximum weekly working time (consulted 9 October 2026) · all sources
  2. legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives): The Working Time Regulations 1998, regulation 10: Daily rest (consulted 9 October 2026) · all sources
  3. legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives): The Working Time Regulations 1998, regulation 11: Weekly rest period (consulted 9 October 2026) · all sources
  4. legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives): The Working Time Regulations 1998, regulation 5: Agreement to exclude the maximum (consulted 9 October 2026) · all sources

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General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.