FTE is used for budgeting, staffing ratios and legal thresholds – for example, U.S. employers with 50 or more full-time equivalents must offer health coverage under the Affordable Care Act (which counts 30 hours as full time).
How to use the FTE Calculator – Full-Time Equivalent
- Full-time employees
- Hours per full-time employee per week
- Part-time employees
- Average hours per part-time employee per week
- Hours in a full-time week
Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.
How it works
Enter the number of full-time employees and their weekly hours, the number of part-time employees and their average weekly hours, and the hours in a full-time week.
Tips
- Use figures for the same period (a month, a quarter or a year) for every input so ratios compare like with like.
- Track the metric over time – the trend usually tells you more than a single value.
- Compare your result with industry benchmarks, which vary a lot between sectors.
- Treat the result as a starting point for a decision, then check the assumptions behind each input.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Mixing monthly and yearly numbers in the same calculation.
- Using revenue where the formula needs profit (or the other way round).
- Forgetting hidden costs such as taxes, fees, overheads or your own time.
Inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Full-time employees | A number |
| Hours per full-time employee per week | A number |
| Part-time employees | A number |
| Average hours per part-time employee per week | A number |
| Hours in a full-time week | A number |
What each result means
- Full-time equivalents = ([Full-time employees]×[Hours per full-time employee per week] + [Part-time employees]×[Average hours per part-time employee per week])÷[Hours in a full-time week]
- Total hours per week = [Full-time employees]×[Hours per full-time employee per week] + [Part-time employees]×[Average hours per part-time employee per week]
- Part-time FTE = [Part-time employees]×[Average hours per part-time employee per week]÷[Hours in a full-time week]
- ACA full-time equivalents (30-hour basis) = [Full-time employees] + [Part-time employees]×[Average hours per part-time employee per week]×52÷12÷120
Example values
How the main result changes when Full-time employees changes and everything else stays at the example values above:
| Full-time employees | Full-time equivalents |
|---|---|
| 9 | 14 |
| 13.5 | 18.5 |
| 18 | 23 |
| 22.5 | 27.5 |
| 27 | 32 |
| 36 | 41 |
Formula
FTE = (full-time employees × their hours + part-time employees × their hours) ÷ full-time hours per weekWorked example
Inputs — Full-time employees: 18; Hours per full-time employee per week: 40; Part-time employees: 10; Average hours per part-time employee per week: 20; Hours in a full-time week: 40.
Results — Full-time equivalents = 23; Total hours per week = 920; Part-time FTE = 5; ACA full-time equivalents (30-hour basis) = 25.22.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate FTE?
Add all hours worked and divide by the hours of one full-time employee.
Is 40 hours always full time?
Many employers use 37.5–40; the ACA uses 30 hours a week.
What is 0.5 FTE?
A job worked at half of full-time hours.
What formula does the FTE Calculator – Full-Time Equivalent use?
FTE = (full-time employees × their hours + part-time employees × their hours) ÷ full-time hours per week.