Business Days Calculator
Count the working days between two dates, with weekends and holidays taken out.
Count business days
Your working days
Business days by month
Each month in the span, with its own weekend and holiday split. The rows are built from your two dates.
How to count business days between two dates
This free business days calculator counts the working days between two dates, excluding weekends and, if you choose, US federal holidays. It is made for employees planning leave, managers setting deadlines and freelancers tracking billable days. There is no sign-up, and everything runs in your browser.
What counts as a business day?
A business day is a weekday, Monday to Friday, that is not a public holiday. Saturday and Sunday never count, and a federal holiday is skipped when the holiday option is on. For example, Friday, January 2, 2026 is a business day, but Thursday, January 1 is not, because New Year’s Day is a federal holiday.
How do you count business days between two dates?
Start at the first date and count forward, adding one for every Monday to Friday and skipping Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Both the start date and the end date count when they are business days. From January 1 to January 9, 2026, that gives 6 business days with holidays on, and 7 with holidays off.
Which US federal holidays does this calculator exclude?
The calculator holds the 11 federal holidays for 2026 and 2027, including New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. When a holiday falls on a weekend, the observed weekday is used instead, following the federal schedule published by the US Office of Personnel Management. Holidays outside those two years are not excluded.
Do business days include the start and end dates?
Yes, when they fall on a weekday. Both endpoints count, which matches how most employers count leave and notice periods. If the start date is a Saturday, it simply adds nothing, and counting begins on Monday. This inclusive rule is why January 1 to January 9, 2026 gives 6 business days with the New Year holiday excluded.
How many business days are in a typical month or year?
A typical month has 20 to 23 business days, depending on how the weekends fall and how many holidays land in it. A full year has about 260 weekdays, and removing the 11 federal holidays leaves about 249 business days. The exact count for your dates is shown above, so use it for leave, deadlines and project plans.
What are the US federal holidays in 2026?
There are 11 federal holidays in 2026, starting with New Year’s Day on Thursday, January 1 and ending with Christmas Day on Friday, December 25. Independence Day falls on a Saturday, so it is observed on Friday, July 3. The full list with dates and weekdays is in the table below.
| Holiday | Date in 2026 | Day of the week |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | January 1 | Thursday |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | January 19 | Monday |
| Presidents Day | February 16 | Monday |
| Memorial Day | May 25 | Monday |
| Juneteenth | June 19 | Friday |
| Independence Day (observed) | July 3 | Friday |
| Labor Day | September 7 | Monday |
| Columbus Day | October 12 | Monday |
| Veterans Day | November 11 | Wednesday |
| Thanksgiving Day | November 26 | Thursday |
| Christmas Day | December 25 | Friday |
July 4, 2026 is a Saturday, so the federal observance moves to Friday, July 3. The same observed-weekday rule applies in 2027, when Juneteenth, Independence Day and Christmas all fall on a Saturday or Sunday.
Frequently asked questions
Is Saturday a business day?
No, not in the usual Monday to Friday working week. Saturday and Sunday are both excluded, so a span that covers a full week contributes 5 business days.
What happens if a holiday falls on a weekend?
The holiday is observed on the nearest weekday instead, Friday when it falls on a Saturday and Monday when it falls on a Sunday. This calculator uses those observed dates, so the day off is still excluded.
Can I count business days without excluding holidays?
Yes. Untick the holiday checkbox and the calculator counts every Monday to Friday in the span, including federal holidays such as Christmas Day.
Does the calculator work for dates in 2025 or 2028?
Weekends are counted correctly for any year, but the holiday list only covers 2026 and 2027. For other years, use the weekend-only count, or check the holiday dates for that year first.
How do I find a date a set number of business days away?
This calculator counts the business days between two dates you already have. To find a date a set number of business days away, count forward on a calendar, skipping Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
Why does my count differ from my employer’s?
Employers often add their own days off, such as state holidays, company shutdown days or the day after Thanksgiving. This calculator uses the federal list only, so a company calendar can give a smaller number.
Does this calculator store my dates?
No. The calculator runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is uploaded, stored or shared.
More tools you may need
Counting every day, not just working days? Try the Days Between Dates Calculator. Need a date in the future or the past? Use the Date Calculator to add or subtract days, weeks or months. Working out someone’s age? Try the Age Calculator.
