Salary & Work

Annual Leave Calculator South Africa 2026

Work out your BCEA leave entitlement — 21 consecutive days of annual leave, your monthly accrual, sick leave over the three-year cycle, and the cash value of any unused leave when you leave a job.

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BCEA leave entitlement

Live estimate · annual, sick & payout · 2026

Employment start

Calculate as of

Work days per week

Monthly salary

Used to value your unused leave payout

Leave cycle type

Annual leave already taken (days)

Days already used this cycle

Accrued annual leave

15.0 days

worth R17 308 if paid out

Annual leave

15 days

per year

Sick leave

30 days

per 3-yr cycle

Family responsibility

3 days

per year

Maternity leave

121 days

4 months

Paternity leave

10 days

since 2020

Leave payout value

R17 308

at daily rate

With a 5-day week you accrue 15 working days of annual leave a year. After 0 days taken you have about 15.0 days available — worth roughly R17 308 if paid out on resignation, plus 30 sick days per 3-year cycle.

BCEA leave types

Annual leave: 21 consecutive days (15 working days on a 5-day week) per cycle
Sick leave: 30 days over each 3-year cycle, after the first 6 months
Family responsibility: 3 days per year, after 4 months of service
Maternity: up to 121 days (claim UIF); paternity: 10 days since 2020

Leave payout on resignation

When you leave a job, accrued but unused annual leave must be paid out in cash at your normal daily rate. Sick leave and family responsibility leave are not paid out unless your contract says otherwise. An employer cannot force you to take leave during your notice period. This is an independent estimate, not legal advice.

Your BCEA leave entitlements

The Basic Conditions of Employment Act (Sections 20–27) sets the minimum paid leave every employee in South Africa is entitled to. Your contract may grant more, but never less than these legal minimums.

21 days annual leave

21 consecutive days per leave cycle — equal to 15 working days on a 5-day week, or 18 on a 6-day week.

30 days sick leave

Over each 3-year cycle, after the first 6 months of employment — the days you would work in 6 weeks.

3 days family responsibility leave

For the birth of a child, a sick child, or a death in the immediate family, after 4 months of service.

4 months maternity leave

Up to 121 days unpaid by the employer, but you can claim UIF benefits during this period.

How annual leave accrues

Leave builds up steadily from your first day of work. The BCEA grants one day for every 17 days worked, which is about 1.25 working days each month for a standard 5-day week. Over a full 12-month cycle you reach the standard 15 working days.

Accrues from day one

You start earning leave immediately — roughly 1.25 working days per month on a 5-day week.

Use it within 6 months

Leave should be taken within 6 months of the end of the cycle in which it accrued, or it can be forfeited.

Key leave rules to know

Payout on resignation

Accrued but untaken annual leave must be paid out in cash at your daily rate when you resign, are dismissed or your contract ends.

Sick leave proof

A medical certificate is required for absences of 2 or more consecutive days, or if the employer reasonably doubts the illness.

Notice period

An employer cannot force you to take annual leave during your notice period — that leave must instead be paid out.

Public holidays 2026

SA has 12 public holidays. They do not count as annual leave, and working one entitles you to double pay or a day off in lieu.

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers to the most common questions.

How many annual leave days do I get in South Africa?

The Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) entitles full-time employees to 21 consecutive days of paid annual leave per leave cycle — equal to 15 working days for someone on a standard 5-day week, or 18 days on a 6-day week. This is the legal minimum; your contract may offer more, but never less.

How does annual leave accrue each month?

Leave accrues at one day for every 17 days worked, which works out to roughly 1.25 working days per month for a 5-day-week employee. After a full 12-month cycle you reach the standard 15 working days. Employers may track accrual monthly so you can see your running balance.

Is my unused leave paid out when I resign?

Yes. Any accrued but untaken annual leave must be paid out in cash at your normal daily rate of pay when you resign, are dismissed or your contract ends. Sick leave and family responsibility leave are not paid out unless your contract specifically provides for it.

How much sick leave am I entitled to?

Sick leave works on a three-year cycle. After the first six months of employment you get the number of days you would normally work in six weeks over each 36-month cycle — typically 30 days for a 5-day-week employee. During the first six months you get one paid sick day for every 26 days worked.

Can my annual leave be forfeited if I do not take it?

Leave should be taken within six months of the end of the leave cycle in which it accrued. While employers often allow some carry-over, the BCEA does not force them to let leave build up indefinitely, and untaken leave can be forfeited if not used in time. However, leave accrued can never simply disappear without being either taken or paid out on termination.

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