How to use the business days calculator
- Choose business days between two dates or a date a number of business days away.
- Enter the start date and the end date, or the number of business days to add. Use a negative number to count backward.
- Keep Skip US federal holidays checked to remove them, or uncheck it to skip weekends only.
- In More options, list any extra days off, such as company holidays, one date per line as YYYY-MM-DD.
- Read the count or the resulting date. The table lists each holiday that was skipped.
Formula
Between: count each day from start to end that is not a Saturday, Sunday or listed holiday
Add: move one day at a time, skipping weekends and holidays, until the count is reached
The start date is not counted when adding business days
For a range, you decide whether the start and end dates count. With both counted, Monday to Friday is 5 business days. Counting neither gives 3.
Worked examples with a federal holiday
Between: October 12 to October 16, 2026 is Monday to Friday, five weekdays. October 12, 2026 is Columbus Day, a federal holiday, so the answer is 4 business days. Turn holidays off and it becomes 5.
Add: 10 business days after Friday, December 18, 2026. December 21 to 24 are days 1 to 4. December 25 (Christmas) is skipped, December 28 to 31 are days 5 to 8, January 1 (New Year's Day) is skipped, January 4 is day 9 and January 5 is day 10. The answer is Tuesday, January 5, 2027.
How observed holidays work
A federal holiday that falls on a Saturday is observed on the Friday before, and one that falls on a Sunday is observed on the Monday after. July 4, 2026 is a Saturday, so Friday, July 3, 2026 is the observed day. January 1, 2028 is a Saturday, so it is observed on Friday, December 31, 2027.
The holiday list is built into this calculator for 2021 through 2040, using the dates set by federal law. Outside that range only weekends are skipped, and the tool tells you so. Inauguration Day, a holiday for federal workers in the Washington, DC area, is not included.
When your deadline uses a different definition
Banks, courts, carriers and contracts each have their own rules. Some count Saturdays, some use a different holiday list and some begin counting the day after an event. Use this tool to plan, and confirm legal or financial deadlines against the governing rule.
Common uses
Project timelines, shipping estimates, invoice due dates, notice periods, HR processes such as probation or leave dates and "within 10 business days" promises. Add your own company holidays in More options to match your calendar.
Assumptions and limits
- Weekends are always Saturday and Sunday.
- Holidays are the 11 US federal holidays with weekend observance, for 2021 to 2040. State and local holidays are not included. Add them as extra days off.
- Dates are calendar dates. Time zones do not matter.
- Ranges are limited to 100 years.
Frequently asked questions
Are business days and working days the same?
In everyday use, yes. Both usually mean Monday to Friday excluding holidays. Some workplaces use "working days" for their own schedule, so check the definition your employer or contract uses.
Does it count the day I start?
When adding business days, no. When counting between two dates, you choose whether the start and end dates count.
How many business days are in a year?
A year has about 260 weekdays. Subtracting the 11 federal holidays that fall on weekdays leaves about 249 to 251, depending on the year.
Does it include Juneteenth?
Yes. Juneteenth National Independence Day (June 19) became a federal holiday in 2021 and is included from 2021 on.