How business days are counted
Every day from the start date to the end date is checked. Saturdays and Sundays are skipped, and so is any listed holiday that falls on a weekday. The remaining days are business days.
Formula: business days = calendar days − weekend days − weekday holidays
Worked example: December 2024 with Christmas and Boxing Day
- 1–31 December 2024 is 31 calendar days.
- It contains 9 weekend days (5 Sundays and 4 Saturdays), leaving 22 weekdays.
- 25 and 26 December fall on Wednesday and Thursday, so 22 − 2 = 20 business days.
Practical uses
- Estimating delivery or processing times quoted in business days.
- Counting working days in a month for payroll or staffing.
- Planning project timelines around public holidays you enter.
- Checking notice periods expressed in working days.
Limitations
- Weekends are fixed as Saturday and Sunday.
- No public holidays are built in; enter the ones that apply to you.
- Ranges are limited to 200 years.
For total calendar days, use the Date Difference Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Are the start and end dates included?
Yes. Both dates are counted if they fall on a weekday, so Monday to Friday of the same week is 5 business days.
Which holidays are excluded?
Only the dates you list. Public holidays differ by country, state and employer, so the calculator does not assume any.
What counts as a weekend?
Saturday and Sunday.
How many business days are in January 2025?
23 weekdays (31 calendar days minus 8 weekend days), before removing any holidays such as New Year’s Day.