Here's something that might bother you: most Swiss employees have no idea how many hours they actually work per year. They know their contract says "42 hours" but have never done the math with holidays, vacation, and breaks factored in. That gap between what you think you work and what you actually work? It changes your effective hourly rate by CHF 5 to 10 per hour.
This calculator gives you the real number. Daily, weekly, monthly, yearly. In hours:minutes and decimal format. With Swiss defaults already loaded so you don't have to Google "how many public holidays does Zurich have" (it's 8 to 9, by the way).
How to Use This Working Time Calculator
Enter your start time, end time, and break duration. The calculator shows your net working hours instantly in both HH:MM and decimal format. No submit button. Just type and see the result update live.
Switch to the Weekly tab. Your daily hours carry over automatically. Adjust the number of working days if you work part-time or a non-standard schedule. The Swiss default is 5 days.
The Monthly/Yearly tab factors in what most calculators ignore: vacation weeks and public holidays. Swiss defaults are pre-filled (4 weeks vacation, 9 public holidays), but everything is editable for your specific situation.
How Many Working Hours per Year in Switzerland?
This is the question everyone Googles but rarely gets a clean answer to. Here's the math, broken down.
A standard Swiss full-time employee with a 42-hour contract works:
- 52 weeks in a year
- Minus 4 weeks vacation = 48 working weeks
- Minus 9 public holidays (average across cantons) = roughly 46.2 effective weeks
- 46.2 weeks x 42 hours = ~1,940 gross hours per year
But wait. With a 40-hour contract, that drops to ~1,848 hours. And if you have 5 weeks of vacation instead of 4, it's even lower.
The point: your contract's weekly hours are not your actual annual hours. Vacation and holidays eat a meaningful chunk. This matters when you're calculating your true hourly rate, negotiating a salary, or comparing full-time vs. freelance income.
How Many Working Days in a Year in Switzerland?
Another frequently searched question. Here's the answer for 2026:
2026 has 261 weekdays (Monday to Friday). But you don't work all of them.
Subtract:
- 20 to 25 vacation days (4 to 5 weeks, depending on your contract)
- 8 to 10 public holidays (depending on your canton, and whether they fall on weekdays)
Result: A typical Swiss employee works 226 to 233 days per year.
The exact number changes every year because public holidays shift between weekdays and weekends. In a "good" year, more holidays fall on weekdays and you get more days off. In a "bad" year, they land on Saturdays and you lose out.
Swiss Working Time Law: What You Need to Know
Swiss labor law (the Arbeitsgesetz / ArG) sets clear rules about how much you can work. Here's what actually matters.
Maximum Weekly Working Hours
- 45 hours/week for industrial workers, office staff, technical employees, and retail workers
- 50 hours/week for all other employees
These are hard legal maximums. Most contracts specify 40 to 42 hours, which is the actual Swiss standard. Banking and finance tend toward 42. Tech companies and startups usually stick to 40.
Mandatory Break Times
Swiss law requires employers to provide breaks:
- 15 minutes for shifts over 5.5 hours
- 30 minutes for shifts over 7 hours
- 60 minutes for shifts over 9 hours
These breaks are unpaid unless your contract says otherwise. That's why an 08:00 to 17:00 schedule with a 1-hour lunch is 8 hours of work, not 9.
Minimum Vacation in Switzerland
- 4 weeks (20 days) per year for employees aged 20+
- 5 weeks (25 days) per year for employees under 20
Many Swiss employers offer 5 weeks as standard, particularly for senior roles. Some collective labor agreements (GAVs) guarantee even more. Always check your specific contract.
Swiss Public Holidays by Canton (2026)
Switzerland has exactly one national holiday: August 1st. Everything else is cantonal. This creates real differences in annual working time depending on where you work.
| Canton | Public Holidays | Key Holidays |
|---|---|---|
| Zurich (ZH) | 8-9 | Sechseläuten, Knabenschiessen (half-days) |
| Bern (BE) | 9 | Berchtoldstag (Jan 2) |
| Geneva (GE) | 10 | Jeûne genevois, Restauration de la République |
| Vaud (VD) | 9 | Lundi du Jeûne |
| Basel-Stadt (BS) | 9 | Basler Fasnacht |
| Ticino (TI) | 10 | Multiple saint days |
| Lucerne (LU) | 10 | Corpus Christi, Assumption |
| St. Gallen (SG) | 9 | All Saints' Day |
| Valais (VS) | 10 | Multiple Catholic holidays |
| Aargau (AG) | 8 | Fewer than most cantons |
Converting Working Hours: Decimal vs. Hours and Minutes
If you've ever filled out a timesheet and wondered whether to write 7.30 or 7.50 for seven and a half hours, you're not alone. This trips up more people than you'd think.
The rule is simple: divide minutes by 60.
| Hours:Minutes | Decimal Hours | Common Mistake |
|---|---|---|
| 7h 00min | 7.00 h | |
| 7h 15min | 7.25 h | Writing 7.15 |
| 7h 30min | 7.50 h | Writing 7.30 |
| 7h 45min | 7.75 h | Writing 7.45 |
| 8h 00min | 8.00 h | |
| 8h 20min | 8.33 h | Writing 8.20 |
Why this matters: If you report 7.30 when you mean 7h 30min, your timesheet says 7 hours 18 minutes. Over a month, that error adds up to hours of unpaid work. Our calculator shows both formats for every result, with a one-click copy button for each.
When I moved to Switzerland and started tracking my time as a freelancer, I made the decimal mistake for two weeks before a client pointed it out. I was underreporting by about 45 minutes per day. At CHF 150/hour, that's over CHF 100/day in lost revenue. Now I always use a calculator instead of doing the conversion in my head.
Part-Time Work: How to Calculate Your Pensum
Switzerland has one of the highest part-time employment rates in Europe. About 37% of the workforce works part-time. If that's you, here's how the math works.
Your "pensum" (employment percentage) is based on your contractual weekly hours divided by full-time hours:
- 100% = 42h/week (or 40h, depending on the company)
- 80% = 33.6h/week (based on 42h) or 32h/week (based on 40h)
- 60% = 25.2h/week (based on 42h) or 24h/week (based on 40h)
- 50% = 21h/week (based on 42h) or 20h/week (based on 40h)
Your vacation days and holiday entitlements scale proportionally. An 80% employee gets 80% of the public holiday hours, 80% of the vacation days (though the number of "weeks" stays the same), and 80% of the salary.
Pro tip: When comparing job offers at different pensum levels, always calculate the effective hourly rate. A 60% role at CHF 90,000 is actually more per hour than a 100% role at CHF 130,000 (assuming the same full-time base).
Working Hours by Industry in Switzerland
"Full-time" means different things in different industries. Here's what contracts typically look like across Swiss sectors:
| Industry | Standard Weekly Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Banking & Finance | 42h | Some banks still at 42.5h |
| Consulting | 42-45h | Plus frequent unpaid overtime |
| Tech & Software | 40-42h | Many startups at 40h |
| Pharma & Healthcare | 42h | Shift workers have different rules |
| Public Sector | 41-42h | Varies by canton and level |
| Retail | 42-45h | Maximum 45h under ArG |
| Hospitality | 42-45h | Seasonal variations |
| Construction | 41-45h | GAV regulations apply |
The difference between a 40h and a 45h weekly contract is 260 hours per year. That's over 6 full working weeks. This is why comparing salaries without knowing the working hours is misleading.
Overtime Rules in Switzerland
When your actual hours exceed your contract, Swiss law gets specific. And there are two different categories that most people confuse.
Überstunden (Overtime)
Hours beyond your contract but below the legal weekly maximum (45 or 50 hours).
- Employer can require it with reasonable notice
- Compensation: 125% of hourly rate or equivalent time off
- Can be waived in the employment contract (up to a limit)
Überzeit (Excess Hours)
Hours beyond the legal maximum (45 or 50 hours/week).
- Strictly regulated, only allowed in exceptional situations
- Compensation: 125% mandatory, cannot be replaced by time off without written agreement
- Must be tracked and reported
- Annual limit: 170 hours (for 45h/week workers) or 140 hours (for 50h/week workers)
How Working Hours Affect Your True Hourly Rate
Here's a calculation that changes how you think about your salary. Most people know their annual gross income. Very few know their actual hourly rate.
CHF 100,000/year gross salary:
| Working Pattern | Effective Hours/Year | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 40h/week, strict | ~1,688 hours | CHF 59.24 |
| 42h/week, strict | ~1,772 hours | CHF 56.43 |
| 42h/week + 3h overtime | ~1,928 hours | CHF 51.87 |
| 45h/week, regular | ~2,070 hours | CHF 48.31 |
The difference between a strict 40h week and regular 45h weeks? CHF 10.93 per hour less. That's a 19% pay cut in real terms. If you're working overtime "for free" because your contract says it's included, you should know exactly what it's costing you. Even parking those extra earnings in a high-yield savings account could make a meaningful difference over time.
Common Mistakes When Calculating Working Hours
Your contract says 8:00 to 17:00? That's 9 hours of presence, not 9 hours of work. With a 1-hour lunch break, you're working 8 hours. Always deduct break time. Swiss law requires it.
7.30 decimal hours is NOT 7 hours 30 minutes. It's 7 hours 18 minutes. If your timesheet uses decimal format, make sure you're converting correctly. This error alone can cost you hundreds of francs per month.
Swiss cantons have between 8 and 10 public holidays. Using the wrong number throws off your entire annual calculation. And remember: holidays that fall on weekends don't reduce your working days.
Two hours per week sounds trivial. It's not. Over a year, 42h vs. 40h equals 96 extra hours. That's almost two and a half full working weeks. Always verify what your contract actually says.
Swiss law distinguishes between Überstunden and Überzeit. Mixing them up or not tracking them at all means you might be leaving money (or time off) on the table.
Working Time for Freelancers and Contractors
If you're self-employed or freelancing in Switzerland, working time calculations matter even more because every hour directly affects your income.
Billable vs. non-billable hours: Most freelancers can bill about 60-70% of their total working time. The rest goes to admin, sales, bookkeeping, and finding new clients. If you need to earn CHF 150,000/year and can bill 65% of your time at CHF 150/hour, you need to work about 1,538 billable hours. That's roughly 32 billable hours per week.
Setting your rate: Use this calculator to figure out your annual working hours, then divide your target income by billable hours (not total hours). This gives you a realistic hourly rate that accounts for vacations, holidays, and non-billable time.
Pro tip: Freelancers in Switzerland don't get paid vacation or holidays. You need to charge enough during working weeks to cover the 4-5 weeks you won't be billing. And don't forget retirement: a Pillar 3a account lets you deduct up to CHF 7,258 from your taxable income while building long-term savings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the standard working week in Switzerland?
The standard contractual working week in Switzerland is 40 to 42 hours, depending on the industry. The legal maximum is 45 hours for office and retail workers, and 50 hours for all other employees. Banking and finance typically use 42 hours. Tech companies and startups often use 40.
How many working days are in a year in Switzerland?
Switzerland has 261 weekdays in 2026. After subtracting 4 weeks vacation (20 days) and approximately 9 public holidays, a typical full-time employee works 226 to 233 days per year. The exact number varies by canton and by how many holidays fall on weekdays vs. weekends.
How do I convert hours and minutes to decimal hours?
Divide the minutes by 60 and add to the hours. Examples: 7h 15min = 7.25, 7h 30min = 7.50, 7h 45min = 7.75. The most common mistake is writing 7.30 instead of 7.50 for seven and a half hours. Our calculator converts automatically and lets you copy in either format.
Are lunch breaks paid in Switzerland?
No. Swiss labor law states that breaks are unpaid unless your employment contract explicitly says otherwise. Break time must be deducted from total working hours. A 9-hour presence (8:00 to 17:00) with a 1-hour lunch equals 8 hours of paid work.
How many public holidays does Switzerland have?
It depends on the canton. The only national holiday is August 1st (Swiss National Day). Most cantons recognize 8 to 10 additional public holidays. Geneva and Ticino have among the most (10), while Aargau has among the fewest (8). Check with your canton and employer.
Can my employer force me to work overtime in Switzerland?
Yes, but with limits. Your employer can require overtime (Überstunden) with reasonable notice, up to the legal weekly maximum (45 or 50 hours). It must be compensated at 125% pay or with equivalent time off. Hours beyond the legal maximum (Überzeit) are more strictly regulated and have annual caps.
How do I calculate working hours per month in Switzerland?
Take your yearly working hours and divide by 12. For a standard 42h/week employee with 4 weeks vacation and 9 holidays, that's approximately 1,772 hours per year, or about 147.7 hours per month. The exact monthly number varies because months have different numbers of working days.
What's the difference between 40h and 42h contracts in Switzerland?
Two hours per week equals about 96 extra hours per year, which is nearly 2.5 full working weeks. On a CHF 100,000 salary, a 42h contract means your effective hourly rate is about CHF 2.80 less per hour than a 40h contract. Always factor this in when comparing job offers.
Tips to Get the Most From This Calculator
Save and share your results Click the share button to generate a URL with your exact inputs. Useful for discussing schedules with HR, comparing different job scenarios, or just bookmarking your calculation for later.
Compare part-time scenarios Run the calculator with different day/hour combinations to see how going from 100% to 80% actually affects your yearly hours and effective hourly rate. The math might surprise you.
Check your canton's specific holidays Don't just use the default 9. Look up your canton's actual public holidays for the current year and adjust the number. The difference between 8 and 10 holidays is about 16 to 20 working hours per year.
Use it for salary negotiations Before your next review, calculate your true hourly rate. If you're consistently working 44 hours on a 42-hour contract, you deserve to know what those extra hours are costing you. Come prepared with data, not feelings.
Freelancers: calculate your minimum rate Enter your target annual income, divide by your realistic billable hours (not total hours), and you'll get the minimum hourly rate you need to charge. Most freelancers undercharge because they forget to account for vacation, holidays, admin time, and gaps between projects.
The Bottom Line
Working time in Switzerland isn't complicated, but most people never do the full calculation. They estimate, round, and guess. That's fine until you realize the gap between 40h and 42h per week is almost CHF 6,000/year in lost hourly value on a six-figure salary.
This calculator turns vague contracts into concrete numbers. Use it before your next salary negotiation, when comparing job offers, or just to understand what your time is actually worth.
Pro tip: Save your results using the share button. It creates a URL with all your inputs so you can revisit your numbers anytime or share them with a financial advisor.
Looking to put those extra savings to work? Run the numbers on our compound interest calculator to see how even small monthly contributions grow over decades.