WageWise Canada
Browse Calculators

Home / Calculators / Ontario Public Holiday Pay Calculator

Ontario Public Holiday Pay Calculator

Calculate statutory public holiday pay entitlements under the Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA), Part X. Supports all three general holiday arrangements: taking the day off, working with public holiday pay plus premium pay, or working for regular wages with a substitute holiday.

Rule Version: 1.0.0 (ESA 2000 Part X §§ 24–33) Last Reviewed: 2026-07-31

Step 1: Check Eligibility & Scope

Is this employment covered by Ontario provincial employment standards?
Are you an employee rather than an independent contractor?
Do you know whether your occupation or industry is exempt from Ontario public holiday provisions or follows special rules?
Did the employee (or will the employee) work their last scheduled shift before and their first scheduled shift after the public holiday, OR did the employer simply not schedule or provide work on those days?
What is the holiday arrangement?
Does the regular wages amount you will enter represent only wages actually earned in the 4 work weeks before the holiday (excluding overtime premiums, vacation pay already included in regular wages, and holiday pay itself)?
Does a collective agreement or employment contract provide greater public holiday entitlements than the ESA minimum?

*Disclaimer: Results are estimates for informational purposes only. Refer to official provincial employment standards for binding rules.

How Public Holiday Pay Is Calculated in Ontario

Under the Ontario ESA (Part X, §§ 24–33), public holiday pay (PHP) is calculated using this general formula:

Public Holiday Pay = (Regular wages earned + Vacation pay payable in the 4 work weeks before the public holiday) ÷ 20

The formula divides total 4-week earnings by 20 (representing 20 work days in 4 standard 5-day work weeks) to determine one day’s average statutory pay.

Ontario’s 9 ESA Statutory Public Holidays

Holiday2026 Date
New Year’s DayJanuary 1
Family DayFebruary 16
Good FridayApril 3
Victoria DayMay 18
Canada DayJuly 1
Labour DaySeptember 7
Thanksgiving DayOctober 12
Christmas DayDecember 25
Boxing DayDecember 26

Note: Civic Holiday (first Monday in August) is not an ESA-mandated public holiday in Ontario.

Supported Statutory Holiday Arrangements

1. Holiday Off

The employee takes the public holiday off and receives their calculated Public Holiday Pay (PHP formula result) for that day.

2. Works with Public Holiday Pay Plus Premium Pay

The supported general arrangement estimates public holiday pay plus premium pay equal to 1.5 times the employee’s regular rate for every hour worked on the holiday. No substitute day is given, and ordinary regular wages are not added separately on top of premium pay.

Worked Example (PHP = $124.80, 8 hrs @ $25/hr): Premium rate = $37.50/hr → Premium pay = $300.00 → Combined holiday compensation = $124.80 + $300.00 = $424.80.

3. Works with a Substitute Holiday

The supported general arrangement estimates regular wages for the hours worked, plus public holiday pay connected to a substitute holiday. A substitute holiday is still required.

Worked Example (PHP = $124.80, 8 hrs @ $25/hr): Regular wages for holiday work = $200.00 → Public holiday pay for substitute day = $124.80 → Combined monetary amount = $200.00 + $124.80 = $324.80 (Substitute holiday still required).

The Last-and-First Rule

Under Ontario ESA § 26, an employee must work their last regularly scheduled day before the public holiday and their first regularly scheduled day after the holiday to qualify for public holiday pay (unless they had reasonable cause for missing the shift or the employer did not schedule work).

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How does the premium-pay option work under the Ontario ESA?

When an employee works on a public holiday and does not receive a substitute day off, they receive Public Holiday Pay plus Premium Pay (1.5× regular hourly rate for each hour worked on the holiday). Ordinary regular wages are not added separately on top of premium pay.

2. How does the substitute-holiday option work?

When an employee works on a public holiday and agrees to take a substitute day off, they receive regular wages for hours worked on the holiday, plus Public Holiday Pay for the substitute day off. A substitute day off remains required.

3. What is the formula for Public Holiday Pay in Ontario?

Public Holiday Pay equals total regular wages earned plus vacation pay payable in the 4 work weeks before the public holiday, divided by 20.

4. Are regular wages included in premium pay?

Premium pay under ESA § 27(2)(a) is calculated at 1.5 times the regular rate per hour worked. This rate compensates the worker for working on the holiday, and is added directly to Public Holiday Pay without a separate 1.0× regular wages line.

5. When was this specification last reviewed?

The Ontario Public Holiday Pay specifications were last reviewed against official Ministry of Labour sources on July 31, 2026.

Related Pay Tools

Ontario Vacation Pay Calculator → Available — general rule

Calculate statutory 4% and 6% vacation pay entitlements based on gross earnings and tenure.

Ontario Overtime Pay Calculator → Available — general rule

Estimate 1.5× overtime pay for hours worked past the 44-hour weekly threshold under the Ontario ESA.

Gross Pay Calculator Canada → Available

Calculate total pre-tax earnings for regular shifts and overtime hours worked.