--- title: "Double and triple overtime: the difference · Sicheca" description: "When an overtime hour is paid at double and when at triple, with examples in pesos." url: https://sicheca.com/en/blog/horas-extra-dobles-y-triples lang: en alternate_es: https://sicheca.com/blog/horas-extra-dobles-y-triples.md --- Hours and workday · 4 min read # Double and triple overtime: the difference Short answer Overtime hours within the weekly cap are paid at double, that is, 100% more. Those that exceed the cap are paid at triple, 200% more, and cannot be more than 4 per week. ## Example With a salary of $400 per day on a day shift, the ordinary hour is worth $50. - Double-time hour: $100. - Triple-time hour: $150. If in 2027 someone works 11 overtime hours in the week, 9 are paid at double ($900) and 2 at triple ($300). ## How to do the math by hand Take a salary of $400 per day on a day shift. The ordinary hour is worth 400 ÷ 8 = $50. In 2027, with 11 overtime hours in the week, the first 9 are paid at double time (9 × $100 = $900) and the remaining 2 at triple time (2 × $150 = $300). Total: $1,200. ## Legal basis Articles 66 and 68 of the Federal Labor Law. ## The reform in one minute The reform has two parts. On March 3, 2026, article 123 of the Constitution was amended to set the 40-hour workweek. On May 1, 2026, the Federal Labor Law was amended, which is where the detail is. - The maximum working week drops from 48 to 40 hours, two hours per year, between 2027 and 2030. - Overtime has a weekly cap: it is paid at double time up to the cap and at triple time for up to 4 more hours. - Each company must electronically record the start and end time of each person's workday. - Not keeping that record is fined 250 to 5,000 UMA. - Salary and benefits cannot go down because of the reduction in hours. What remains pending are the STPS general rules, which will define who the record applies to and what exceptions there will be. They take effect on January 1, 2027. | Year | Maximum working hours | Double-time overtime | Triple-time overtime | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026 | 48 h | 9 h | 4 h | | 2027 | 46 h | 9 h | 4 h | | 2028 | 44 h | 10 h | 4 h | | 2029 | 42 h | 11 h | 4 h | | 2030 | 40 h | 12 h | 4 h | Decree published in the Official Gazette of the Federation on May 1, 2026, second and fourth transitory provisions, and article 68 of the LFT. Each change applies from January 1. ## Common mistakes - Adding up overtime by pay period (quincena) instead of by week. - Forgetting the maximum of 4 overtime hours a day and 4 days a week. - Not counting as working time the time a person is at the company's disposal. - Dividing by 8 hours when the shift is night or mixed. - Paying at double time hours that already correspond to triple time. ## What to do now 1. Measure actual hours for the last four weeks. 2. Identify who exceeds the maximum workweek for the year. 3. Redesign the shifts. 4. Define who authorizes overtime. 5. Check each person's cap every week. ## Related terms **[What is the integrated daily salary (SDI)](https://sicheca.com/en/blog/salario-diario-integrado-sdi).** The integrated daily salary adds to the daily-rate salary the benefits the person receives, such as aguinaldo and vacation premium. **[What is the Federal Labor Law (LFT)](https://sicheca.com/en/blog/ley-federal-del-trabajo-lft).** The Federal Labor Law governs the relationships between companies and workers in Mexico: working hours, salary, rest, benefits and termination. **[What is a finiquito (final settlement)](https://sicheca.com/en/blog/que-es-un-finiquito).** The finiquito is the payment of what the company owes a person when the employment relationship ends, regardless of the cause. ## Frequently asked questions ### Can I offset overtime with time off? The law orders them to be paid. It does not provide for exchanging them for rest. ### What happens when the STPS publishes its rules? They will specify who the record applies to and its exceptions. It is worth checking them as soon as they appear in the Official Gazette of the Federation. ### Is the maximum workday per day or per week? There are two limits: a daily one, which did not change, and a weekly one, which drops from 48 to 40 hours between 2027 and 2030. ### Is overtime counted by week? Yes. The cap on double-time overtime is weekly and per person. ### Can someone work more than 12 hours in a day? No. The sum of ordinary and overtime hours cannot exceed 12 hours per day. ## Legal basis and sources - Overtime: articles 66 and 68 of the LFT and fourth transitory provision of the decree. - Working hours: articles 58 to 64 of the LFT and second transitory provision of the decree. - [Decree amending the Federal Labor Law on the reduction of the working week](https://sidof.segob.gob.mx/notas/docFuente/5786537). Official Gazette of the Federation, May 1, 2026. - [Federal Labor Law, current text](https://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/LFT.pdf). Chamber of Deputies. **How we write this content.** The Sicheca team writes it from the official text of the law. When something is not yet defined by the authority, we say so. It is general information and does not replace the advice of a lawyer or an accountant. ## Keep reading [ Hours and workday **The 12-hour limit of work per day**](https://sicheca.com/en/blog/limite-12-horas-diarias) [ Hours and workday **Overtime: maximum 4 per day and on 4 days per week**](https://sicheca.com/en/blog/maximo-horas-extra-por-dia) [ Hours and workday **Working-time record for remote work and home office**](https://sicheca.com/en/blog/registro-de-jornada-en-trabajo-remoto) [ Glossary **What the UMA is and how much it is worth**](https://sicheca.com/en/blog/que-es-la-uma-y-cuanto-vale) [See all articles](https://sicheca.com/en/blog/) Who publishes this blog Sicheca is a digital time clock for recording working time from your phone. We write these guides from the official text of the law, so any business can understand what applies to it. If you want to try it, there is a waitlist. 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