FTE calculator
This FTE calculator converts the hours your team works into full-time equivalents, using the 38-hour week that sets full-time hours in Australia. Enter your current hours and the hours you need covered, and it shows your current FTE, the FTE you need and how many shifts it takes to close the gap.
Updated 12 November 2026 · Uses 2026-27 figures
Work out your full-time equivalent (FTE)
Enter total weekly hours worked, your full-time hours and the hours you need covered.
General information only, not financial, tax or legal advice. Results are estimates based on 2026-27 figures and the assumptions shown. Check your award, agreement or a qualified adviser for your situation.
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Get a quote Call 0477 567 567How to use the FTE calculator
- Add up the hours all your staff work in a typical week and enter the total.
- Enter your full-time hours. Under the National Employment Standards this is 38 hours a week, but your award or agreement may set a different number.
- Enter the total hours of work you need covered each week, for example from your roster or forecast volume.
- Read your current FTE, the FTE you need and the number of 7.6-hour shifts needed to fill the gap.
What is FTE?
FTE stands for full-time equivalent. It expresses hours worked as a number of full-time employees, so a team made up of full-time, part-time and casual staff can be measured in one figure. One FTE is one person working full-time hours. In Australia the National Employment Standards set full-time at 38 ordinary hours a week, plus reasonable additional hours.
Someone working 30.4 hours a week is 0.8 FTE, someone on 19 hours is 0.5 FTE, and two people each working 19 hours add up to 1.0 FTE. Businesses use FTE for budgets, headcount reports, rostering and grant or contract requirements that count staff in full-time terms.
How to calculate FTE
FTE = total hours worked ÷ full-time hours
Use the same period for both numbers. Weekly hours divided by 38 is the simplest method. For a fortnight, divide by 76.
| FTE | Hours per week (38-hour full-time) | Days of 7.6 hours |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | 38 | 5 |
| 0.8 | 30.4 | 4 |
| 0.6 | 22.8 | 3 |
| 0.5 | 19 | 2.5 |
| 0.4 | 15.2 | 2 |
| 0.2 | 7.6 | 1 |
If your award or enterprise agreement sets a different full-time week, enter that number instead of 38.
Worked example
A warehouse team works a total of 520 hours a week. Full-time is 38 hours. The operation needs 600 hours covered each week in the lead-up to a busy season.
Current FTE is 520 ÷ 38 = 13.68. The FTE needed is 600 ÷ 38 = 15.79. The gap is 2.11 FTE, or 80 hours a week.
That is about 11 shifts of 7.6 hours each week.
A gap like this can be filled with overtime, extra part-time hours, new hires or casual workers through labour hire.
FTE vs headcount
Headcount is the number of people employed. FTE is the amount of full-time work they do. A business with 20 staff could be 12 FTE if many work part-time. FTE is the better number for budgeting wages, because cost follows hours, while headcount matters for things like training, uniforms, inductions and the 15-employee test for small business redundancy rules.
Part-time employees have rights to minimum hours and penalty rates under many awards. Our guide to part-time minimum hours explains how that affects rostering.
Filling an FTE gap
- Overtime is quick but costs 150% to 200% of the base rate and leads to fatigue if it runs for weeks.
- More part-time hours suit existing staff who want them, at ordinary rates.
- New permanent hires suit gaps that will last. Check the full cost with the employee cost calculator.
- Casual or labour hire workers suit seasonal and uncertain demand. TQN Personnel supplies labour hire for warehousing, construction, hospitality and more.
Frequently asked questions
What does FTE stand for?
FTE stands for full-time equivalent. It measures hours worked in terms of full-time employees, so 1.0 FTE is one person working full-time hours and 0.5 FTE is half of that.
What does FTE mean in employment?
It describes how much of a full-time load a role or person works. A job advertised as 0.6 FTE is three days a week if full-time is five days. Employers also use FTE to count total staffing for budgets and reports.
0.8 FTE is how many hours?
On a 38-hour full-time week, 0.8 FTE is 30.4 hours a week, which is four days of 7.6 hours. Over a fortnight that is 60.8 hours.
What is 0.6 FTE?
0.6 FTE is 60% of full-time hours. On a 38-hour week that is 22.8 hours, or three days of 7.6 hours.
How many hours is full-time in Australia?
The National Employment Standards set a maximum of 38 ordinary hours a week for full-time employees, plus reasonable additional hours. Some awards and agreements define full-time as fewer hours, such as 35 or 36.
How do you calculate FTE for casual staff?
Add up the hours casual staff actually worked over a period and divide by the full-time hours for the same period. For example, 76 casual hours in a week divided by 38 is 2.0 FTE.
How many FTE do I need?
Divide the total hours of work you need covered each week by your full-time hours. If your roster needs 600 hours a week on a 38-hour full-time week, you need 15.79 FTE. Compare that with your current FTE to see the gap, then decide whether to fill it with overtime, new hires or casual staff.
Is FTE the same as headcount?
No. Headcount counts people, while FTE counts the full-time workload they cover. Ten part-time staff each working 19 hours is a headcount of 10 but only 5 FTE.
Related calculators
Related guides
Part-time minimum hoursSources and assumptions
General information only, not financial, tax or legal advice. Results are estimates based on 2026-27 figures and the assumptions shown. Check your award, agreement or a qualified adviser for your situation.