Working Days Calculator
Calculate working days between dates instantly. Exclude weekends and holidays automatically. Add or subtract business days, plan project timelines, and calculate accurate delivery dates.
Enter a start date and end date to calculate the exact number of working days between them.
Why Working Days Matter for Business Planning
When someone says "I need this in 10 days," do they mean 10 calendar days (including weekends) or 10 working days (only weekdays)? This distinction makes a huge difference. Ten calendar days from a Friday means the following Monday week, but 10 working days means two full weeks later. Understanding and calculating working days accurately is essential for setting realistic deadlines, planning projects, managing contracts, and coordinating business operations.
Our Working Days Calculator removes the guesswork from business scheduling. Automatically excluding weekends and public holidays, the tool gives you precise working day counts for any date range. Whether you're calculating project timelines, planning deliveries, tracking employee leave, or managing service level agreements, accurate working day calculation ensures everyone has the same expectations and prevents missed deadlines due to weekend miscounting.
How to Calculate Working Days
Choose Your Calculation Type
Select whether you want to count working days between two dates, add working days to a starting date, or subtract working days from an ending date. Each option serves different planning needs.
Enter Your Dates
For counting: enter start date and end date. For adding: enter start date and number of working days to add. For subtracting: enter end date and number of working days to go back. Use the date picker for easy selection or type dates manually.
Select Holiday Calendar
Choose your country from the dropdown to automatically exclude public holidays. You can also add custom holidays like company shutdown days, regional observances, or special closure dates that aren't on the standard calendar.
Review Results
See the exact number of working days, which weekends were excluded, which holidays were skipped, and the final calculated date. The breakdown shows you exactly how the calculation was made for complete transparency.
Powerful Business Day Calculation Features
Count Working Days
Calculate exact number of working days between any two dates. Perfect for project duration estimation and timeline planning.
Add Working Days
Add business days to any starting date to find deadline or delivery dates. Automatically skips weekends and holidays.
Subtract Working Days
Work backwards from a deadline to find when work must start. Essential for planning projects with fixed end dates.
Exclude Weekends
Saturdays and Sundays automatically excluded from all calculations. Customize work week if your business has different off days.
Public Holiday Calendar
Built-in holiday calendars for multiple countries. All national public holidays automatically excluded from working day counts.
Custom Holidays
Add company-specific holidays, regional observances, or special closure dates. Create custom calendars for your exact business needs.
Working Days vs Calendar Days Comparison
| Time Period | Calendar Days | Working Days | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Week | 7 days | 5 days | 2 weekend days excluded |
| 2 Weeks | 14 days | 10 days | 4 weekend days excluded |
| 1 Month (30 days) | 30 days | 21-22 days | 8-9 weekend days excluded |
| 1 Month (31 days) | 31 days | 22-23 days | 8-9 weekend days excluded |
| 3 Months (Quarter) | 90-92 days | 63-65 days | ~27 weekend days excluded |
| 6 Months | 180-184 days | 127-130 days | ~53 weekend days excluded |
| 1 Year | 365 days | 260-262 days | 104-105 weekend days excluded |
Note: Working day counts assume standard Monday-Friday work weeks and exclude public holidays. Actual working days may be fewer when holidays fall on weekdays.
When You Need Working Days Calculation
Project Management
- Calculate project duration in business days
- Set realistic milestone deadlines
- Plan resource allocation accurately
- Track project progress against working days
- Estimate completion dates for clients
Contracts & Agreements
- Calculate payment terms (Net 30 business days)
- Determine contract notice periods
- Plan delivery schedules accurately
- Calculate penalty dates for late delivery
- Verify compliance with SLA response times
HR & Leave Management
- Calculate employee vacation days
- Track sick leave in working days
- Plan staff coverage during absences
- Calculate notice period end dates
- Manage parental leave schedules
Shipping & Delivery
- Calculate delivery timeframes for customers
- Set realistic shipping expectations
- Plan inventory restocking schedules
- Coordinate supplier delivery times
- Manage logistics and fulfillment dates
Understanding Business Days and Work Weeks
Business days (also called working days or weekdays) are the days when regular business operations take place. Understanding what counts as a business day varies by country, industry, and company policy.
Standard Work Week
Most countries and businesses use a Monday-Friday work week:
- Working Days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday (5 days)
- Weekend: Saturday and Sunday (2 days)
- Total Weekly Days: 7 calendar days = 5 working days + 2 weekend days
Alternative Work Weeks
Some countries and regions have different work week structures:
- Middle East (Many Countries): Sunday to Thursday work week, Friday-Saturday weekend
- Saudi Arabia: Sunday to Thursday, with half-day Friday in some sectors
- Israel: Sunday to Thursday or Sunday to Friday morning, Saturday (Shabbat) always off
- Nepal: Sunday to Friday work week, Saturday off
- Some Businesses: Six-day weeks (Monday-Saturday) in retail or service industries
Half-Day Working Days
Some businesses or countries have half-working days, particularly on Fridays or before holidays. Our calculator can be customized to handle these special cases by adding them as partial holidays or adjusting the work week configuration.
Always Specify Business Days
When setting deadlines or making promises, always specify "business days" or "working days" rather than just "days." This prevents confusion and sets clear expectations with clients, vendors, and team members.
Account for Holidays
Don't forget to exclude public holidays from your calculations. A two-week period during the Christmas season might have significantly fewer working days than expected due to multiple holidays.
Add Buffer Time
When planning critical deadlines, add 1-2 extra working days as buffer. Unexpected delays, sick days, or urgent priorities can impact timelines. Buffer time prevents last-minute rushes.
Consider Time Zones
Working with international teams? Remember their working days might differ from yours. A Friday deadline in New York is already Saturday in Tokyo. Specify time zones with working day deadlines.
Document Company Holidays
Maintain a company calendar with all holidays, shutdown periods, and company-wide off days. Share this calendar when setting deadlines with external parties to avoid confusion.
Review Long-Term Projects
For projects spanning months, review the calendar for major holiday periods. December, summer vacation periods, and regional festivals can significantly impact available working days.
How Public Holidays Affect Working Days
Public holidays reduce the number of available working days in any given period. Understanding holiday impact helps you plan more accurately and avoid overcommitting during holiday-heavy months.
Typical Annual Holidays by Country
- United States: 10-11 federal holidays (New Year's, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.)
- United Kingdom: 8 bank holidays (New Year's, Easter Monday, May Day, Spring Bank Holiday, Summer Bank Holiday, Christmas, Boxing Day)
- India: 3 national holidays + 8-10 regional holidays (Republic Day, Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti + Diwali, Holi, Eid, etc.)
- China: 11 official holidays including week-long Golden Week (Chinese New Year, National Day) and shorter holidays
- Japan: 16 national holidays (New Year, Coming of Age Day, Golden Week, Obon period, etc.)
- Germany: 9-13 holidays depending on state (New Year's, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Christmas, etc.)
Holiday Clustering
Holidays often cluster together, creating extended periods with fewer working days:
- Christmas/New Year Period: Many businesses close for a full week or more, reducing December/January working days significantly
- Easter Weekend: Good Friday through Easter Monday creates a 4-day weekend in many countries
- Summer Holidays: While not official holidays, many businesses have reduced operations during July-August in Europe
- Golden Week (Asia): Major holiday periods in China and Japan see business closures for entire weeks
Planning Around Holidays
When planning projects or setting deadlines:
- Check the calendar for holidays at both the start and end of your timeframe
- Remember that holidays falling on weekends may be observed on adjacent weekdays
- Account for regional holidays if working with specific locations
- Consider international holidays when working with global teams or vendors
- Add extra buffer time before and after major holiday periods
Using Working Days for Project Planning
Accurate working day calculation is fundamental to realistic project planning. Here's how to use working days effectively for project management.
Setting Project Timelines
Step 1: Break Down Tasks - List all project tasks and estimate duration in working days for each.
Step 2: Account for Dependencies - Identify which tasks must be completed before others can start. Sequential tasks add to total project length.
Step 3: Calculate Total Duration - Add up working days for all tasks on the critical path (longest sequence of dependent tasks).
Step 4: Check Holiday Calendar - Review the project period for holidays and extended closures that will extend the calendar duration.
Step 5: Add Contingency - Include 15-20% buffer time for unexpected delays, revisions, or problems.
Common Project Duration Estimates
- Small Website: 20-30 working days (4-6 calendar weeks)
- Marketing Campaign: 15-25 working days (3-5 calendar weeks)
- Office Renovation: 40-60 working days (8-12 calendar weeks)
- Product Launch: 60-90 working days (12-18 calendar weeks)
- System Implementation: 120-180 working days (24-36 calendar weeks)
Working Backwards from Deadlines
When you have a fixed deadline, work backwards to find when tasks must start:
- Start with the deadline date
- Subtract total working days needed for the project
- Subtract additional buffer time (15-20% of project duration)
- The result is your latest possible start date
- Start earlier if possible to accommodate unexpected delays
Quick Reference: Working Days by Month
| Month | Total Days | Typical Working Days | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 | 21-22 | New Year's Day holiday |
| February | 28-29 | 19-20 | Shortest month, Presidents' Day (US) |
| March | 31 | 22-23 | Easter can fall in March (varies) |
| April | 30 | 20-22 | Easter Monday, Good Friday (varies by country) |
| May | 31 | 21-22 | Various labor/May Day holidays |
| June | 30 | 21-22 | Mid-year, typically no major holidays |
| July | 31 | 21-23 | Independence Day (US), reduced EU operations |
| August | 31 | 21-23 | Summer holidays in Europe, reduced operations |
| September | 30 | 21-22 | Labor Day (US), back to full operations |
| October | 31 | 22-23 | Typically no major holidays in most countries |
| November | 30 | 20-21 | Thanksgiving week (US) has fewer working days |
| December | 31 | 18-21 | Christmas holidays, many businesses close late December |
Important: Actual working days vary based on how weekends fall, specific holidays in your country, and company-specific closure days. Use our calculator for exact counts.
Common Working Days Scenarios Solved
Scenario 1: "Net 30" Payment Terms
Question: Invoice dated January 15. Payment terms are "Net 30 business days." When is payment due?
Solution: Use the calculator to add 30 working days to January 15. The result (around February 25-26, depending on holidays and weekends) is the payment due date. This is typically 6-7 weeks in calendar time because you're excluding weekends and any holidays.
Scenario 2: Employee Notice Period
Question: Employee gives notice on March 1. Contract requires 20 working days notice. What's their last day?
Solution: Add 20 working days to March 1. Result is approximately March 29 (about 4 calendar weeks). The employee's last working day is March 29, not March 21 (which would be 20 calendar days).
Scenario 3: Project Deadline Planning
Question: Client needs a website launch by November 15. Project requires 45 working days. When must work start?
Solution: Subtract 45 working days from November 15. Result is approximately September 13 (about 9 calendar weeks earlier). Add a few extra days buffer, so start by September 10 to be safe.
Scenario 4: Shipping Timeframes
Question: Order placed Friday, December 20. Shipping takes 7-10 business days. When will it arrive?
Solution: Add 7-10 working days to December 20. Because of Christmas and New Year holidays, 7 business days might mean arrival around January 2-3, and 10 business days around January 8-9. This is 2-3 calendar weeks, not the 7-10 calendar days customers might assume.