Business Days Calculator
Calculate the number of business days (working days) between two dates, excluding weekends and optionally excluding US federal holidays. Essential for shipping estimates, legal deadlines, payment terms, and project planning. Our calculator follows OPM federal holiday guidelines.
- Business days = Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays
- 251-252 business days per year in the US (2026 has 251)
- 5 business days = 1 work week = 7 calendar days
- 30 business days = 6 weeks = approximately 42 calendar days
- Common uses: Shipping, payment terms (Net 30/60/90), legal deadlines, ACH transfers
- Related: Business days explained | Calendar days calculator | 90 days calculator
Calculate Business Days
Find working days between dates or add business days to a date
Quick Business Day Calculations
Common business day periods and their calendar day equivalents:
Business Days to Calendar Days Conversion
Use this reference table to quickly convert between business days and calendar days. These estimates assume no holidays fall within the period.
| Business Days | Calendar Days | Weeks | Common Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1-3 | 0.2-0.4 | Next-day processing |
| 2 | 2-4 | 0.3-0.6 | Express delivery |
| 3 | 3-5 | 0.4-0.7 | ACH transfers |
| 5 | 7 | 1 | Standard processing |
| 7 | 9-11 | 1.4 | Standard shipping |
| 10 | 14 | 2 | Two-week deadline |
| 15 | 21 | 3 | Net 15 payment |
| 20 | 28 | 4 | One month |
| 30 | 42 | 6 | Net 30 payment |
| 45 | 63 | 9 | Net 45 payment |
| 60 | 84 | 12 | Net 60 payment |
| 90 | 126 | 18 | Net 90 payment, probation |
| 120 | 168 | 24 | Quarterly reporting |
| 180 | 252 | 36 | Semi-annual review |
| 252 | 365 | 52 | Full business year |
Business Days vs. Calendar Days
Understanding the difference between business days and calendar days is critical for contracts, shipping, and legal deadlines. According to the Legal Information Institute, business days exclude weekends and legal holidays.
| Aspect | Calendar Days | Business Days |
|---|---|---|
| Days counted | All days (Mon-Sun) | Mon-Fri only |
| Per week | 7 days | 5 days |
| Per year (2026) | 365 days | 251 days* |
| Weekends | Included | Excluded |
| Holidays | Included | Excluded |
| 30-day period | ~4.3 weeks | 6 weeks (42 calendar days) |
| 60-day period | ~8.6 weeks | 12 weeks (84 calendar days) |
| 90-day period | ~12.9 weeks | 18 weeks (126 calendar days) |
| Common uses | Age, general deadlines | Shipping, legal, payments |
*2026 has 251 business days: 365 - 104 weekend days - 10 holidays (1 holiday falls on weekend)
US Federal Holidays 2026
These holidays are excluded from business day calculations when the "Exclude US Federal Holidays" option is checked. Source: US Office of Personnel Management.
| Holiday | 2026 Date | Day | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | January 1 | Thursday | Thursday, Jan 1 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | January 19 | Monday | Monday, Jan 19 |
| Washington's Birthday (Presidents Day) | February 16 | Monday | Monday, Feb 16 |
| Memorial Day | May 25 | Monday | Monday, May 25 |
| Juneteenth National Independence Day | June 19 | Friday | Friday, Jun 19 |
| Independence Day | July 4 | Saturday | Friday, Jul 3* |
| Labor Day | September 7 | Monday | Monday, Sep 7 |
| Columbus Day | October 12 | Monday | Monday, Oct 12 |
| Veterans Day | November 11 | Wednesday | Wednesday, Nov 11 |
| Thanksgiving Day | November 26 | Thursday | Thursday, Nov 26 |
| Christmas Day | December 25 | Friday | Friday, Dec 25 |
- Saturday holiday: Observed on the preceding Friday
- Sunday holiday: Observed on the following Monday
- *July 4, 2026: Falls on Saturday, so Friday July 3 is the federal holiday
Business Days Per Year (2024-2030)
The number of business days varies by year depending on how weekends and holidays fall. Data based on OPM federal holiday schedule.
| Year | Total Days | Weekend Days | Holidays (Weekday) | Business Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 366 (leap) | 104 | 11 | 251 |
| 2025 | 365 | 104 | 11 | 250 |
| 2026 | 365 | 104 | 10 | 251 |
| 2027 | 365 | 104 | 11 | 250 |
| 2028 | 366 (leap) | 106 | 10 | 250 |
| 2029 | 365 | 104 | 11 | 250 |
| 2030 | 365 | 104 | 11 | 250 |
Note: Holidays falling on weekends reduce the "Holidays (Weekday)" count since they don't affect business days.
Business Days by Month (2026)
Plan your projects and deadlines with this monthly breakdown of business days for 2026:
| Month | Calendar Days | Weekend Days | Holidays | Business Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 | 8 | 2 (New Year, MLK) | 21 |
| February | 28 | 8 | 1 (Presidents Day) | 19 |
| March | 31 | 8 | 0 | 23 |
| April | 30 | 8 | 0 | 22 |
| May | 31 | 10 | 1 (Memorial Day) | 20 |
| June | 30 | 8 | 1 (Juneteenth) | 21 |
| July | 31 | 8 | 1 (July 4 observed) | 22 |
| August | 31 | 10 | 0 | 21 |
| September | 30 | 8 | 1 (Labor Day) | 21 |
| October | 31 | 8 | 1 (Columbus Day) | 22 |
| November | 30 | 9 | 2 (Veterans, Thanksgiving) | 19 |
| December | 31 | 8 | 1 (Christmas) | 22 |
| 2026 Total | 365 | 104 | 11 (10 weekday) | 251 |
Banking and ACH Transfer Business Days
Banks follow Federal Reserve guidelines for business days. Understanding banking business days is essential for payment processing:
| Transaction Type | Business Days | Calendar Days | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACH Direct Deposit | 1-2 | 1-4 | Employer to employee |
| ACH Bank Transfer | 1-3 | 1-5 | Between personal accounts |
| Same-Day ACH | Same day | Same day | Cutoff times apply |
| Wire Transfer (Domestic) | Same day | Same day | Usually processed same day |
| Wire Transfer (International) | 1-5 | 1-7 | Depends on destination |
| Check Clearing | 2-5 | 2-7 | Depends on check type |
| Credit Card Processing | 1-3 | 1-5 | Merchant settlement |
Bank holiday note: Banks observe all 11 federal holidays, plus some may close early the day before major holidays. The Federal Reserve Bank publishes the official bank holiday calendar.
Shipping and Delivery Business Days
Major carriers use business days for delivery estimates. Here's what to expect:
| Service Level | Business Days | Calendar Days | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight/Next Day | 1 | 1 | FedEx, UPS, USPS Priority Express |
| 2-Day | 2 | 2-4 | FedEx 2Day, UPS 2nd Day Air |
| 3-Day | 3 | 3-5 | FedEx Express Saver, UPS 3 Day |
| Ground/Standard | 5-7 | 7-10 | FedEx Ground, UPS Ground, USPS |
| Economy | 7-10 | 10-14 | Various economy services |
| International Standard | 10-15 | 14-21 | International carriers |
| International Economy | 15-25 | 21-35 | Sea freight, economy air |
Payment Terms and Business Days
Standard payment terms in business contracts typically use business days or calendar days. Here's a comparison:
| Payment Term | If Business Days | If Calendar Days | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net 7 | 7 biz = 9-11 cal | 7 calendar days | 2-4 days |
| Net 10 | 10 biz = 14 cal | 10 calendar days | 4 days |
| Net 15 | 15 biz = 21 cal | 15 calendar days | 6 days |
| Net 30 | 30 biz = 42 cal | 30 calendar days | 12 days |
| Net 45 | 45 biz = 63 cal | 45 calendar days | 18 days |
| Net 60 | 60 biz = 84 cal | 60 calendar days | 24 days |
| Net 90 | 90 biz = 126 cal | 90 calendar days | 36 days |
Important: Always verify whether a contract specifies "business days" or "calendar days." When unspecified, industry practice and jurisdiction may determine the default interpretation.
Legal Deadlines and Business Days
Many legal deadlines are calculated in business days. According to Cornell Law School, courts have specific rules for computing time:
Federal Court Rules (FRCP Rule 6)
- Periods under 11 days: Exclude weekends and federal holidays
- Periods of 11 days or more: Include all calendar days
- Last day falls on weekend/holiday: Deadline extends to next business day
Common Legal Deadlines
- Response to complaint: Often 21 or 30 days (calendar or business depends on jurisdiction)
- Appeal filing: 30 days from judgment (usually calendar days)
- SEC filings: 10-K within 60 days, 10-Q within 40-45 days (calendar days)
- IRS notices: 30 or 90 days to respond (calendar days typically)
International Business Days Comparison
Business day definitions vary by country. Here's how different regions define the work week:
| Region/Country | Work Week | Annual Holidays | Business Days/Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Mon-Fri | 10-11 | 250-252 |
| United Kingdom | Mon-Fri | 8 | 252-253 |
| Germany | Mon-Fri | 9-13* | 248-254 |
| France | Mon-Fri | 11 | 250-252 |
| Japan | Mon-Fri | 16 | 245-247 |
| Saudi Arabia | Sun-Thu | ~15 | ~245 |
| Israel | Sun-Thu | ~10 | ~250 |
| UAE | Mon-Fri** | ~15 | ~245 |
| India | Mon-Sat (some) | ~15 | ~295 (6-day) / ~245 (5-day) |
| China | Mon-Fri | 7 + makeup days | ~250 |
*Germany holidays vary by state (Bundesland). **UAE changed from Sun-Thu to Mon-Fri in 2022.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 5 business days in a standard week (Monday through Friday). This is the standard used in most legal, financial, and shipping contexts across the United States and most Western countries.
In the US, there are typically 250-252 business days per year after excluding weekends (104 days) and federal holidays (10-11 weekday holidays). 2026 has 251 business days. See our complete business days per year guide.
A business day is typically any day from Monday to Friday that is not a federal holiday. The Legal Information Institute defines it as a day when most businesses are open. Some definitions may also exclude state holidays or company-specific holidays.
No, Saturday is not typically considered a business day in the US or most Western countries. Business days are Monday through Friday only. However, some businesses operate on Saturdays, and specific contracts may define business days differently.
30 business days equals 6 weeks (42 calendar days), assuming no holidays fall within that period. Use our calculator above with the "Add Business Days" tab to get the exact date, which accounts for weekends and holidays automatically.
No, business days typically exclude federal holidays in addition to weekends. The 11 US federal holidays are not counted as business days. Some calculations may also exclude state or local holidays depending on the context.
Working days and business days are generally synonymous, both meaning Monday through Friday excluding holidays. Some industries may define them slightly differently - for example, manufacturing might count a Saturday shift as a working day but not a business day for administrative purposes.
Banks follow the Federal Reserve calendar, counting Monday through Friday as business days and excluding all federal holidays. ACH transfers typically take 1-3 business days, while wire transfers often process the same business day if submitted before cutoff times.
5 business days equals 7 calendar days (one week), assuming you start on a Monday and no holidays fall within that period. If you start on a different day, it will span into the following week.
In most legal and business contexts, if a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, it extends to the next business day. However, this varies by jurisdiction and contract terms. Federal courts follow FRCP Rule 6 which specifies this extension. When in doubt, complete your obligation before the weekend/holiday.