How to use the pay period calendar
- Enter any first pay date and choose the pay frequency: weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly or monthly.
- Enter the year to list. For twice a month, choose the two pay days. For monthly, choose a day or the last day of the month.
- Tick the weekend rule if your payroll pays on the Friday before when a pay date lands on a Saturday or Sunday.
- Read the table of pay dates and the number of pay periods, then download the CSV or PDF.
Formula
Weekly: pay dates are 7 days apart. Biweekly: 14 days apart
Semi-monthly: two fixed days each month, with day 31 meaning the last day of short months
Monthly: one fixed day each month, or the last day
Weekend rule: a Saturday date moves back 1 day and a Sunday date moves back 2 days
A year has 365 or 366 days. That is 52 weeks plus 1 or 2 days, so some years fit an extra weekly or biweekly pay date.
Worked examples for 2026
Biweekly, first pay date Friday, January 2, 2026: the pay dates are January 2, January 16 and so on every 14 days. The 26th is Friday, December 18, so the year has 26 pay periods. The next one is January 1, 2027.
Biweekly, first pay date Thursday, January 1, 2026: adding 14 days 26 times gives Thursday, December 31, 2026, so there are 27 pay dates that year.
Weekly from January 1, 2026: 365 days is 52 weeks and 1 day, so a Thursday pay date on January 1 repeats on December 31 for 53 pay dates.
Twice a month on the 15th and the last day, with the Friday rule: 8 of the 24 dates fall on a weekend in 2026. For example, Saturday, January 31 moves to Friday, January 30, and Sunday, February 15 moves to Friday, February 13.
Why some years have 27 biweekly paychecks
Biweekly pay has 26 periods in most years because 26 x 14 = 364 days. A year is 365 days, or 366 in a leap year, so there are 1 or 2 days left over. When your first pay date of the year lands on January 1 (or January 2 in a leap year), the 27th one still fits on the last day of December. The same thing happens with weekly pay and a 53rd date.
How a 27th pay date affects the size of each paycheck depends on how your employer sets up payroll. Ask your payroll department how it handles the extra date, since policies vary.
Weekends and holidays
Many payroll systems move a pay date earlier when it falls on a weekend, and many also consider bank holidays. This tool applies only the Saturday and Sunday rule you choose, and it does not know about holidays. If your pay date falls on a holiday, check your employer's published schedule.
When the weekend rule moves a date across a year boundary, such as a January 1 pay date that falls on a Saturday, the table shows both the scheduled and the actual date, with a notice.
Related planning
To count business days between two dates, use the business days calculator. To project paid time off by pay period, see the PTO accrual calculator.
Assumptions and limits
- The first pay date is a real pay date. Dates before it are not listed.
- Weekly and biweekly dates are exactly 7 and 14 days apart.
- Semi-monthly and monthly dates use the days you choose. A day past the end of a short month becomes the last day.
- Holidays are not considered. Your employer's official pay calendar is the final word.
- The year range is 1990 to 2100.
Frequently asked questions
How many pay periods are in a year?
There are usually 52 for weekly pay, 26 for biweekly, 24 for semi-monthly and 12 for monthly. Weekly and biweekly pay can have one more in some years, depending on the date of the first paycheck.
Why does my biweekly calendar have 27 pay dates this year?
Twenty-six 14-day periods cover 364 days, and a year has 365 or 366. If a pay date lands on January 1, or January 2 in a leap year, another one fits before the year ends.
What is the difference between biweekly and semi-monthly pay?
Biweekly pay is every 14 days, on the same weekday, for 26 checks a year. Semi-monthly pay is on two set days of each month, such as the 15th and the last day, for 24 checks a year, and the weekday changes.
What happens when a pay date falls on a weekend?
It depends on the employer. This tool can move the date to the Friday before, which is a common rule. Turn the option off to see the scheduled dates unchanged.
Can I use this to check my employer's calendar?
Yes, as a cross-check. Enter one real pay date and compare the list with your employer's published schedule. Differences usually come from holidays or from a different first pay date.