Vacation Entitlement Calculator 2026
Calculate vacation days for part-time work, parental leave, mid-year start & severe disability – statutory minimum leave is 20 days
As of September 2026Basis: BUrlG, § 208 SGB IX, § 17 BEEGCalculated in your browser – your inputs are not transmitted and are kept on this device only if you choose
Based on a 5-day week. Tap to type · drag sideways to adjust.
Working days per week
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If you start in the second half of the year, you do not complete the six-month waiting period this year and get one twelfth per full month (Section 5 BUrlG).
If you leave in the first half of the year, you get one twelfth per full month (Section 5 BUrlG).
More detailsParental leave: 0 months
Your remaining vacation
30days
30Your annual entitlement: 30 days. Of this you still have 30 days.
- remaining30100%
RZ-26 · headon.pro
How this was calculated
- Per contract
- 30 days
- Annual entitlement
- 30 days
For a 5-day week: 20 days (Basis: 24 working days = 20 working days for a 5-day week)
- Full entitlement only after a 6-month waiting period.
- Remaining vacation usually expires on 31 March of the following year.
- A reduction for parental leave must be declared explicitly by the employer.
How is vacation entitlement calculated?
Basics of the Federal Vacation Act (Bundesurlaubsgesetz)
The Federal Vacation Act (Bundesurlaubsgesetz, BUrlG) regulates the minimum vacation leave for employees in Germany. The statutory minimum leave is 24 working days for a 6-day week, which corresponds to 20 working days for a 5-day week.
However, many employers grant more vacation days than the statutory minimum. In Germany, 25 to 30 vacation days per year for a 5-day week are common.
Vacation entitlement for part-time work
Pro-rata calculation for part-time employees
For part-time employment, vacation entitlement is calculated pro rata. The calculation follows a simple formula that takes the actual working days into account.
- Contractual vacation days (full-time)
- 30 days
- Working days per week (part-time)
- 3 days
- Calculation
- 30 × (3 ÷ 5)
- Vacation entitlement
- 18 days
The formula is: vacation days × (working days per week ÷ 5)
Parental leave and vacation entitlement
Rights during and after parental leave
Vacation entitlement continues to accrue during parental leave. However, under §17 BEEG the employer may reduce the leave by 1/12 for each full month of parental leave.
Important: The employer must actively declare this reduction – without a declaration, the full entitlement remains. The leave can be taken during the current or the following vacation year after parental leave ends.
Additional leave for severe disability
- Requirement
- Degree of disability (GdB) of at least 50 or equal status under §2(3) SGB IX
- Entitlement
- 5 additional vacation days per calendar year for full-time employment
- Part-time pro-rata
- For part-time work, the additional leave is calculated pro rata based on the actual working days
- Proof
- The severe disability ID card must be presented to the employer
Waiting period and forfeiture
- 1Waiting periodFull vacation entitlement only arises after 6 months of employment. Before that, a pro-rata entitlement of 1/12 per month applies.
- 2CarryoverUnused vacation generally forfeits on March 31 of the following year (carryover period under §7(3) BUrlG).
- 3IllnessIn case of prolonged illness, vacation can be carried over up to 15 months after the end of the year – a period established by case law (ECJ C-214/10 "KHS", Federal Labour Court), not by the statute itself.
Frequently asked questions about vacation entitlement
Everything important at a glance
How many vacation days am I legally entitled to?
Under the Federal Vacation Act (Bundesurlaubsgesetz, BUrlG), the statutory minimum leave is 24 working days for a 6-day week, or 20 working days for a 5-day week. Many employment contracts grant more – 25 to 30 vacation days for full-time employment are common.
How are vacation days calculated for part-time work?
For part-time work, vacation entitlement is calculated pro rata. The formula is: contractual vacation days × (actual working days per week ÷ 5). Example: 30 days × (3 ÷ 5) = 18 vacation days. The statutory minimum leave for a 3-day week is therefore 12 days.
How do I calculate vacation entitlement for a mid-year start?
Full vacation entitlement only arises after 6 months of employment. Before that: 1/12 of the annual leave per full month of employment. For example, someone starting on October 1 is entitled to 3/12 of the annual leave by year-end – with 20 days of annual leave, that is 5 days.
Does my leave forfeit during parental leave?
No, vacation entitlement continues to accrue during parental leave. However, under §17 BEEG the employer may reduce the leave by 1/12 for each full month of parental leave. The employer must actively and explicitly declare this reduction – without a declaration, the full entitlement remains.
What additional leave is available for severe disability in 2026?
People with a degree of disability (GdB) of at least 50 are entitled under §208 SGB IX to 5 additional vacation days per year for a 5-day week. For part-time work, the additional leave is calculated pro rata based on the actual working days. The severe disability ID card must be presented to the employer.
When does unused vacation forfeit?
Unused vacation generally forfeits on March 31 of the following year (§7(3) BUrlG). Since the ECJ ruling of 2018 (C-684/16, "Max-Planck"), forfeiture requires that the employer has given the employee timely notice of the impending forfeiture. In case of illness, leave can be carried over up to 15 months after the end of the year.
How do I calculate my remaining vacation days?
Remaining leave = annual leave + carried-over leave from the previous year − vacation days already taken. Our vacation calculator shows you the exact remaining entitlement based on your details (full-time/part-time, start date, parental leave, severe disability).