How to count business days
Choose Count working days, then enter a start and end date. The calculator goes through every day in the range and counts the ones that are neither a weekend day nor one of the holidays you list. By default both the start and end dates are included, so counting from Monday to Friday of the same week gives 5 business days.
Worked example: from Monday 2 November to Monday 30 November 2026 there are 21 weekdays. In the US, Thanksgiving (26 November) is a federal holiday, so enter 2026-11-26 as a holiday to get 20 business days. Many businesses also close on the Friday after Thanksgiving, which would make it 19.
How to add business days to a date
Choose Add working days, pick a start date and the number of business days. The start date itself isn't counted: one business day after a Friday is the next Monday. Use a negative number to go back in time.
Worked example: 10 business days after Friday 18 December 2026, skipping 25 December and 1 January, is Tuesday 5 January 2027. Without the holidays it would be Friday 1 January.
Weekends around the world
| Weekend | Used in, for example |
|---|---|
| Saturday and Sunday | Most of the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania |
| Friday and Saturday | Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel, Algeria, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman |
| Sunday only | Many shops and some offices with a six-day week |
The United Arab Emirates moved its official weekend to Saturday and Sunday in 2022. Public holidays vary by country and often by region, so list the ones that apply to you.
Where business days matter
- Shipping and delivery: "3–5 business days" means weekends and holidays don't count.
- Payments: bank transfers and card settlements usually happen on banking days only.
- Notice periods and invoices: payment terms like "net 30" usually mean calendar days, but some contracts say business days. Read the wording.
- Courts and government: deadlines often move to the next business day when they fall on a weekend or holiday.
Frequently asked questions
How many business days are in a year?
A common year has 260 or 261 weekdays (Monday to Friday) and a leap year 260 to 262, depending on the day it starts; 2026 has 261. Subtract the public holidays that fall on weekdays: in the US, 11 federal holidays leave about 250 business days.
Is Saturday a business day?
Usually not. Most businesses and banks treat Monday to Friday as business days. In countries with a Friday–Saturday weekend, Sunday to Thursday are the business days.
How do I add 5 business days to a date?
Choose "Add working days", enter the start date and 5. The calculator skips weekends and any holidays you list. Five business days after a Wednesday is the following Wednesday.
Does the calculator know public holidays?
Holidays differ by country, region and even company, so the calculator doesn't assume any. Type the dates you want to skip in the holidays box.
Business-day rules vary by country, industry and contract. Check which days your bank, court or business partner treats as working days.