Worked example
Two four-day arrangements can look similar on a calendar but be financially very different if one still contains 37.5 hours and the other contains 30.
Frequently asked questions
Why include commute costs?
One of the main benefits of compressed hours can be eliminating a weekly journey even when total paid hours stay unchanged.
Does this assess workload or fatigue?
No. Longer compressed working days may have non-financial effects that should be considered separately.
Compressed hours and reduced hours are different decisions
Compressed hours usually keep the same total weekly hours but fit them into fewer working days. Reduced hours lower the total paid hours and normally change pay. This calculator lets you compare both patterns with your current arrangement while including the commuting cost created by each working day.
Use realistic take-home figures if pay will change. If you are comparing contract offers, confirm how breaks, pension contributions and holiday entitlement are handled because two schedules with the same headline weekly hours can still produce different practical outcomes.
Before deciding, also consider
- the length of each working day and likely fatigue;
- childcare opening hours and wraparound-care costs;
- whether meetings regularly extend beyond contracted hours;
- how leave is deducted on longer compressed days.
Fewer commuting days can create real savings even when annual pay is unchanged. The result is strongest when the schedule you enter reflects how the arrangement will work in practice, not just the contractual headline.