FTE Calculator
Full-time equivalent headcount from a mix of full-time, part-time and casual staff.
FTE converts a headcount of mixed working patterns into a single comparable number.
How the fte calculator works
FTE converts a headcount of mixed working patterns into a single comparable number. Someone working 19 hours against a 38-hour full-time week is 0.5 FTE, and two of them cost roughly what one full-time person does.
It matters because headcount and FTE diverge sharply in any organization with substantial part-time work. A team of 30 people can be 22 FTE, and budgets, ratios and productivity measures computed on the wrong one will be wrong by that margin.
The full-time week is an input because it varies — 38 hours in much of Australia, 37.5 in many UK organisations, 40 in the US.
Formula: FTE = Σ hours / full-time weekly hours
Worked examples
| Inputs | Total FTE | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 18 full-time, 9 part-time, 64 casual hours | 24.8947 | 25.9 FTE from 27 people |
| All full-time | 18 | FTE equals headcount |
| A 40-hour week | 24.55 | a lower FTE for the same hours |
FAQFrequently asked questions
What is FTE?
Full-time equivalent — a headcount converted to full-time units, so a half-time person counts as 0.5.
How do I calculate FTE?
Total weekly hours divided by the full-time week. Someone on 19 hours against a 38-hour week is 0.5 FTE.
Why does FTE matter?
Because headcount overstates capacity wherever part-time work is common. Budgets and ratios computed on headcount will be wrong by that margin.
What is a full-time week?
It varies — 38 hours in much of Australia, 37.5 in many UK organisations, 40 in the US. It is an input here for that reason.
Do casuals count in FTE?
By hours, yes. They do not usually count in headcount, which is another reason the two figures diverge.
Where these figures come from
- CIPD — Employee turnover and retention factsheet — the turnover and stability index definitions used here
- US Department of Labor — the federal labour department
Last checked: September 2026. These are standard management definitions; where practice varies, the page says which convention it uses.