Working hours in Norway are maximum 9 hours per day and 40 hours per week. If you work more than this, it is overtime, and you are entitled to an overtime allowance of at least 40 percent. Overtime has its own limits and must occur on the basis of a particular and time-limited need.
Many who are new to working life do not know where the limits are. Then it is easy to work too much or get paid too little. The rules are in the Working Environment Act, and the Labour Inspection Authority ensures they are followed. This guide explains them simply, so you know your rights.
What is normal working hours in Norway?
Normal working hours are the regular time you work without it becoming overtime. The law sets the limit at 9 hours over 24 hours and 40 hours over 7 days (per 2026-07-08). This is often called the normal working day and normal working week.
Many have shorter working hours than this. Through a collective agreement, 37.5 hours per week is very common. A collective agreement is an agreement about wages and conditions between a trade union and an employer. Then hours beyond 37.5 are often counted as extra work or overtime, depending on what your agreement says.
Your working hours should be stated in the employment contract. Check how many hours you should work and when. If you are unsure what the contract should contain, read our guide about employment contract in Norway.
What counts as overtime?
Overtime is work beyond the limits for normal working hours. That is more than 9 hours per day or more than 40 hours per week. Then you are entitled to overtime payment.
The overtime allowance must be at least 40 percent of the agreed hourly rate (per 2026-07-08). This is a minimum requirement that cannot be negotiated away. Many collective agreements provide more, often 50 percent on weekdays and 100 percent on weekends and public holidays.
It is your salary plus the allowance you receive. If you earn 250 kroner per hour, one overtime hour is at least 350 kroner with 40 percent allowance. If you work within a 37.5-hour week but under 40 hours, the extra hours are often called extra work. Then you get regular pay, but not always an overtime allowance.
This applies to most employees. Some managers and employees in particularly independent positions are exempt from the rules about working hours and overtime. If you are unsure whether you are exempt, check your employment agreement and ask your employer or the Labour Inspection Authority.
How much overtime is allowed?
Overtime has clear limits so that no one works themselves ill. Without a special agreement, the limits are 10 hours over 7 days, 25 hours over 4 weeks and 200 hours over 52 weeks (per 2026-07-08).
The limits can be extended. With a written agreement with representatives in a unionized company, they can be raised. The Labour Inspection Authority can grant permission in special cases. The table shows the three levels:
| Basis | Per week | Per 4 weeks | Per 52 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Without agreement (the law) | 10 hours | 25 hours | 200 hours |
| Agreement with representatives | 20 hours | 50 hours | 300 hours |
| Permission from Labour Inspection Authority | 25 hours | – | 400 hours |
Total working time must not exceed 13 hours over 24 hours. Over time, the average must not exceed 48 hours per week, measured over 8 weeks. This protects your health.
Is overtime voluntary, and can I get exemption?
Overtime is not completely voluntary, but it should only be used on the basis of a particular and time-limited need. An employer cannot therefore set fixed overtime as a regular arrangement. There must be a concrete reason, such as a busy period or unexpected absence.
You have the right to exemption from overtime for health or important social reasons. Important social reasons can for example be care for small children. Ask for exemption in writing, so you have documentation. The employer must then find another solution.
This balance between obligations and rights is the core of Norwegian working life. If you want the overview, read more about employee rights.
Can accrued time off replace overtime payment?
You and your employer can agree to take the overtime hours as time off instead of payment. This is called accrued time off. But here is an important trap many fall into.
Accrued time off can only replace the hours themselves, that is, the base pay for the extra hours. The overtime allowance of at least 40 percent must always be paid out in money. You cannot accrue away the allowance. Check your pay slip and see that the allowance is actually there.
An example: you work 4 hours of overtime and agree to take them as time off later. Then you get 4 hours off for the base hours, but the allowance for the 4 hours must still be paid out in salary. This way you keep the full value of the overtime.
How much rest and breaks am I entitled to?
You have the right to rest every day and every week. The law requires at least 11 hours of continuous work-free time over 24 hours, and at least 35 hours of continuous time off over 7 days (per 2026-07-08). The weekly time off should include a Sunday.
Breaks are also a right. If you work more than 5.5 hours, you must have at least one break. If the working day is 8 hours or more, the breaks should be at least 30 minutes in total.
Some work at other times. Night work is work between 21:00 and 06:00 and is only allowed when the nature of the work makes it necessary. Sunday work also requires a particular reason. In some industries, working hours can be calculated as an average over several weeks, called average calculation, but it requires a separate agreement. If you work from home, special rules apply that you can find in the guide about home office and the Working Environment Act.
What if the employer does not pay overtime?
Some employers skip the overtime allowance or pay cash without a pay slip. This is not legal. Then you lose both money and rights, and it can be a sign of black work.
Always ask for a written employment contract and a pay slip showing hours and allowances. Keep track yourself of when you work overtime. If you do not get paid correctly, you can contact the Labour Inspection Authority, which is the public agency for a safe working life. The help is free, and you can be anonymous.
Remember that overtime payment is not the only thing you are entitled to. You also accrue holiday pay from your salary, including overtime. If you know the rules, you stand stronger.
Working hours and the social knowledge test
The rules about working hours, overtime and rest are part of the curriculum for the social knowledge test. The test checks whether you understand how Norwegian working life works, and what rights and obligations you have at work.
If you are new to Norway, you can prepare with tools for the first week. This is part of the curriculum for the social knowledge test, and you can practice for free on SamfunnPrep. Then you learn the words that often come: working hours, overtime, allowance, rest time and rights.
