How to use the fiscal 4-5-4 calendar generator
- Enter the calendar year in which the fiscal year ends.
- Choose the pattern of weeks in a quarter: 4-5-4, 4-4-5 or 5-4-4.
- Choose the month and weekday the year ends on, and whether the rule is the weekday nearest to the end of the month or the last one in the month.
- Read the first and last day, the number of weeks and the dates of all twelve periods.
Formula
year end = chosen weekday nearest to (or last in) the chosen month
year start = day after the previous year end
weeks = days in the year / 7, which is 52 or 53
each quarter has 13 weeks in the chosen pattern; a 53rd week goes in the last period
The year ends on a fixed weekday so every period is whole weeks. 52 weeks is 364 days, so about every fifth or sixth year the weekday drifts and the year needs 53 weeks.
The retail year that ends in early 2024
With the rule "Saturday nearest to the end of January", the year ending in 2024 ends on Saturday, February 3, 2024. The previous year ended on January 28, 2023, so this year starts on Sunday, January 29, 2023 and has 371 days, or 53 weeks. Many retailers number it fiscal 2023. In the 4-5-4 pattern, Period 1 runs January 29 to February 25 (4 weeks) and Period 2 February 26 to April 1 (5 weeks).
The extra week goes in the last period, so Period 12 has 5 weeks, from December 31, 2023 to February 3, 2024. The year ending in 2025 ends on February 1, 2025 and has 52 weeks. Checking forward, the next 53-week year ends in 2029. The 53-week years that end in 2013, 2018 and 2024 are the ones many retailers number 2012, 2017 and 2023.
Why retailers use 4-5-4
A calendar month has uneven weeks, so comparing one month with the same month last year compares different numbers of weekends. A 4-5-4 calendar has every period made of whole weeks that start and end on the same weekdays, so each period can be compared with its twin from last year. Quarters have 13 weeks each, and the year has 52 weeks most of the time.
The 4-4-5 and 5-4-4 patterns work the same way with the longer period at a different place in the quarter. Companies choose the pattern that suits how they report.
Year-end rules and the 53rd week
The nearest-weekday rule keeps the year end close to the same date each year. Because it can land a few days into the next month, check which side of the month end your company uses. The last-weekday rule never crosses the month end. Both produce a 53-week year when the gap between two year ends is 371 days. The extra week is added to the last period here, which is the common convention.
Check your own company calendar before relying on these dates for reporting, since some organizations place the extra week differently. For calendar quarters that start in another month, use the Fiscal Quarter Calendar, and for week numbers see the Week Number Calculator. The Business Days Calculator counts working days between dates.
Assumptions and limits
- The fiscal year ends on the weekday and month you choose, by the rule you choose.
- A 53rd week is added to the last period when the year has 371 days. No other adjustment is made.
- Dates use the Gregorian calendar for years from 1900 to 2200.
- Published industry calendars should be checked against your own, and no public holidays are marked.
Frequently asked questions
What does 4-5-4 mean?
It means the three periods of each quarter have four, five and four weeks. A year has four quarters, so 12 periods and 52 weeks, with a 53rd week added in some years.
Why is the year named for the calendar year it ends in?
Companies name their fiscal years differently, some by the year they start in and some by the year they end in. Entering the year the fiscal year ends in avoids that ambiguity, and the page shows the exact start and end dates.
How often is there a 53-week year?
Every five or six years. A 52-week year is 364 days, one day short of a calendar year, so the year end drifts later in the calendar until the extra week is needed to bring it back.
Which pattern should I choose?
Use the one your company reports with. The patterns differ only in which period of each quarter has the extra week, and the quarter dates are the same in every pattern.