How many hours is full time and part time?
In the US, full time usually means 40 hours a week, though for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act it's 30 hours or more. Part time is generally under 30 to 35 hours a week. There's no single federal definition; employers set their own within these rules.
The main definitions
| Source | Full time | Part time |
|---|---|---|
| Most employers | 40 hours a week (sometimes 35–37.5) | Fewer than their full-time standard, often 20–29 hours |
| Affordable Care Act (IRS) | 30+ hours a week, or 130+ hours a month | Under 30 hours a week |
| Bureau of Labor Statistics | 35+ hours a week | 1–34 hours a week |
| Fair Labor Standards Act | No definition. Overtime is due after 40 hours in a work week for non-exempt employees. | |
Hours per year
| Schedule | Per week | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Full time | 40 hours | 2,080 hours |
| Full time (ACA minimum) | 30 hours | 1,560 hours |
| Part time | 20 hours | 1,040 hours |
| Part time | 25 hours | 1,300 hours |
Questions people ask
How many hours is part time?
There's no single legal number in the US. The Bureau of Labor Statistics counts under 35 hours a week as part time, and most employers treat 20 to 29 hours as part time. Under the Affordable Care Act, under 30 hours a week (130 a month) is not full time.
How many hours is full time?
Most employers use 40 hours a week. For health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, full time means an average of 30 hours a week or 130 hours a month. The Bureau of Labor Statistics counts 35 hours or more as full time.
Does the law define full-time work?
The federal Fair Labor Standards Act doesn't define full time or part time. It does require overtime pay, at 1½ times the regular rate, for non-exempt employees after 40 hours in a work week. Some states have their own rules, such as daily overtime in California.
Is 32 hours a week full time?
It depends on the employer. 32 hours is full time for ACA health coverage (30 or more), but many companies use 40 hours as their full-time standard.
General information, not legal advice. Rules differ by state and country, so check with your employer or state labor department.
Track your own hours with the time card calculator, or see how many work hours are in a year.