Vacation pay · Ontario
Ontario vacation pay.
How much vacation pay you are owed in Ontario, and how many weeks of vacation time your years of service entitle you to.
In Ontario vacation pay is at least 4% of gross wages with two weeks of vacation time, rising to 6% and three weeks once you reach five years of employment.
It is calculated on the gross wages you earned in your 12-month vacation entitlement year, excluding the vacation pay itself. Overtime and public holiday pay are included in that base; tips and discretionary bonuses are not.
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Your vacation entitlement
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How Ontario vacation entitlement steps up
| Length of service | Vacation time | Vacation pay |
|---|---|---|
| From the first year up to 5 years | 2 weeks | 4% |
| 5 years and over | 3 weeks | 6% |
The step happens at five years of employment, not five years of full-time service, and there is no tier in between. Time on a job-protected leave still counts toward the five years.
Source, last verified 2 September 2026: Ontario.ca — Vacation, Your guide to the Employment Standards Act.
Frequently asked questions
How much vacation pay am I owed in Ontario?
At least 4% of your gross wages for the vacation entitlement year if you have been employed less than five years, and at least 6% once you reach five years of employment.
On $52,000 of gross wages that is $2,080 at 4% and $3,120 at 6% — a difference of $1,040 a year that turns on a single anniversary date.
When do I get three weeks of vacation in Ontario?
After five years of employment with the same employer. Vacation time goes from two weeks to three, and vacation pay from 4% to 6%, at the same moment.
It is five years of employment, not five years of active work: time on a job-protected leave still counts toward the five years.
Does overtime count toward vacation pay in Ontario?
Yes. Overtime pay, public holiday pay, commissions, and bonuses that are non-discretionary or tied to hours worked all form part of the gross wages vacation pay is calculated on.
Excluded are the vacation pay itself, tips and other gratuities, discretionary bonuses and gifts, expenses and travel allowances, employer benefit-plan contributions, EI benefits, and severance pay.
Can my employer pay vacation pay on every cheque?
Only with your written agreement. Otherwise vacation pay is paid as a lump sum before the vacation starts, or on the pay day for the period in which the vacation falls.
Being paid 4% each cheque does not remove your right to the time off. The time and the money are separate entitlements.
Estimate only — not legal advice
This calculator produces an estimate from the published employment-standards minimums. It is not legal advice and it is not a determination of what you are owed. Vacation entitlement in Ontario is set by the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.
Collective agreements, employment contracts, exemptions for your occupation, averaging agreements and permits can all change the answer. For a binding answer, contact the employment-standards office named above or a lawyer.