How Many Hours Can a Housekeeper Work in Spain?
How many hours can a housekeeper work in Spain? A clear guide to the maximum working week, rest periods and overtime for live-in, live-out and hourly staff.
By Isabella Velletri, Founder of Maids & Co
Published on Updated on 4 min read
In short
One of the most common questions among people looking to hire domestic staff is: how many hours can a housekeeper work under Spanish law? Understanding the current rules is essential if you want to meet your obligations as an employer and provide a fair, safe working environment.
In this article, the team at Maids & Co explains clearly how many hours live-in, live-out and hourly housekeepers are allowed to work in 2026, and what you need to bear in mind.
What is the maximum working week for a housekeeper?
Spanish law sets the maximum legal working week at 40 hours of actual work. This applies to both live-in and live-out housekeepers. However, there are important differences depending on the type of arrangement.
| Item | Live-out | Live-in |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary working hours | 40 hrs/week; max. 9 ordinary hrs/day | 40 hrs/week; max. 9 ordinary hrs/day |
| On-call time (tiempo de presencia) | If agreed, up to 20 hrs/week on a monthly average, paid or compensated | If agreed, up to 20 hrs/week on a monthly average, paid or compensated |
| Rest between shifts | 12 hrs | 12 hrs (can be reduced to 10 with compensation) |
| Weekly rest | 36 consecutive hrs | 36 consecutive hrs |
| Overtime | Max. 80 hrs/year, paid or compensated; not for part-time workers | Max. 80 hrs/year, paid or compensated; not for part-time workers |
Live-in housekeepers: how many hours can they work?
Live-in housekeepers reside in the family home and are more readily available, but their rights are protected by law. Their on-call time (up to 20 hours a week on average over a month) and their overtime (a maximum of 80 hours a year) must:
- Be agreed by both parties.
- Be paid or compensated with time off.
They are also entitled to a minimum daily break of 2 hours for meals.
The mandatory weekly rest period is at least 36 consecutive hours (usually Saturday afternoon and Sunday).
What is on-call time (tiempo de presencia)?
These are the hours when the housekeeper is not carrying out active duties but must remain available. If she does carry out a task during that time, it counts as actual work.
Live-out housekeepers: working hours and rest
Live-out housekeepers do not live in the employer's home and work fixed hours tailored to the family's needs:
- Up to 40 hours a week, with a maximum of 9 ordinary hours a day (Workers' Statute, art. 34.3), or 8 if she is under 18 (Royal Decree 1620/2011, art. 9.8).
- A minimum of 12 hours' rest between shifts.
- A 15-minute break if she works more than 6 hours at a stretch.
- Flexible schedules, as long as the limits are respected.
- Overtime: must be paid or compensated with time off, up to a maximum of 80 hours a year. Part-time workers cannot do it, except to deal with accidents or urgent damage (Workers' Statute, art. 12.4.c).
- On-call time (tiempo de presencia): can also be agreed with a live-out worker, on the same terms (Royal Decree 1620/2011, art. 9.2).
Hourly housekeepers: how are the hours calculated?
An hourly housekeeper works occasionally or less frequently but keeps her employment rights, such as:
- Holiday.
- Public holidays.
- Extra annual bonus payments (pagas extraordinarias).
In 2026, the market rate per hour typically ranges between 10 and 15 €/hour, depending on the city and the duties involved, although the legal minimum, set by the Spanish minimum wage (SMI), is 9.55 €/hour worked. This amount already includes the proportional share of the extra bonus payments and holiday entitlement, so they are not added on separately.
Can you increase the working hours?
Yes. For a part-time worker, extra hours are not overtime: they are agreed in writing as complementary hours (horas complementarias; Workers' Statute, art. 12.5, only for contracts of at least 10 hours a week) or the contract is extended. If you increase the contracted hours, you must:
- Sign an addendum to the contract.
- Update the details with Social Security (Seguridad Social).
Respecting the limits on a housekeeper's working hours is not only a legal obligation but also a mark of respect and professionalism. As a specialist agency, Maids & Co advises you so that you can hire with confidence, transparency and full legal backing.
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Frequently asked questions
- How many hours can a housekeeper work per day?
- Royal Decree 1620/2011 sets no specific daily cap: the maximum ordinary working week is 40 hours of actual work (art. 9.1) and, as a fallback, the Workers' Statute limits ordinary hours to 9 a day (art. 34.3), or 8 if she is under 18 (Royal Decree 1620/2011, art. 9.8). If agreed, there can also be on-call time (tiempo de presencia) of up to 20 hours a week on average over a month.
- What rest periods is she entitled to?
- 12 hours of rest between shifts (for live-in staff, reducible to 10 with compensation) and 36 consecutive hours of weekly rest, plus 30 days of holiday a year.
- Can she work overtime?
- Yes, up to a maximum of 80 hours a year, which must be paid or compensated with time off. Part-time workers cannot do it, except to deal with accidents or urgent damage (Workers' Statute, art. 12.4.c). If the hours are increased on a permanent basis, you must sign an addendum to the contract and update the details with Social Security (Seguridad Social).
- What is on-call time (tiempo de presencia)?
- It is the hours when the housekeeper is available but not carrying out active duties. It is not only for live-in staff: it can also be agreed with a live-out worker. Unless offset with rest, it cannot exceed 20 hours a week on average over a month and is paid at no less than an ordinary hour (Royal Decree 1620/2011, art. 9.2).
Unsure about a term?See the domestic employment glossary
