Paid holidays in France (congés payés): 5 weeks, how they are paid
Every employee in France earns 5 weeks of paid holidays a year, whatever the contract. Here is how they are counted, how they are paid and what the CP lines on your payslip mean.
Updated on 9 November 2026
How many days you earn
| Situation | Leave earned |
|---|---|
| Each month worked | 2.5 working days (jours ouvrables) |
| Full year | 30 working days = 5 weeks |
| Month on sick leave (non-work-related) | 2 working days, up to 24 a year |
| Work accident, maternity, paternity leave | Counted as worked time |
Jours ouvrables are all days except Sundays and public holidays: a week off costs 6 days. Some companies count in jours ouvrés (Monday to Friday): 25 days a year, the same 5 weeks. Rules and dates on service-public.gouv.fr.
How they are paid: the better of two methods
Your employer must compare two calculations and pay you the higher one (article L3141-24 of the Labour Code):
Salary maintained
What you would have earned if you had worked.
The 10% rule
10% of your gross pay over the reference year, shared over your days of leave.
Example
Monthly gross €2,500, €30,000 gross over the reference year, 6 days off this month.
Salary maintained: 2,500 × 6 ÷ 26 = €576.92 10% rule: 30,000 × 10% ÷ 30 × 6 = €600.00 You must receive €600.00
On your payslip
| Line | Base | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salaire de base | 151.67 h | 16.4832 | 2,500.00 |
| Absence congés payés 1 | 6 j | −576.92 | |
| Indemnité congés payés 2 | 6 j | 600.00 | |
| Salaire brut | 2,523.08 |
- Your normal pay for the days off is removed.
- Then the leave pay is added, here with the 10% rule because it is higher.
At the bottom of the payslip, a counter shows leave earned (acquis), taken (pris) and remaining (solde), often split into N-1 (last year) and N (this year). To check your own figures, use the paid leave calculator (in French).
When you leave
Days not taken are paid in your final payslip as indemnité compensatrice de congés payés. See end of contract payslip.
Key points
- 2.5 working days per month, 5 weeks a year.
- Sick leave also earns leave: 2 days per month, up to 24 a year.
- You get the better of salary maintained and the 10% rule.
Check your French payslip in seconds
PaieVerif reads your French payslip (bulletin de paie), compares it with the official rates and shows you what to double-check. Free, no account, your payslip stays on your phone. The app is in French.
Frequently asked questions
How many paid holidays do you get in France?
5 weeks a year: 2.5 working days (jours ouvrables) per month worked, 30 days a year. Collective agreements may give more.
Do you earn paid leave while on sick leave in France?
Yes. For non-work-related sickness, 2 working days per month, up to 24 days a year. For a work accident, the period counts as worked time.
Read next
- French payslip explained: how to read your bulletin de paie
- Sick leave pay in France: IJSS, waiting days and employer top-up
- Final payslip in France (solde de tout compte): what you should get
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This guide gives general information about French employment law. It is not legal advice: your collective agreement (convention collective) or contract may give you more. If in doubt, ask your payroll department, an employee representative, the labour inspectorate or a lawyer.