Work Days Calculator
Count the number of working days (business days) between two dates. Weekends are excluded automatically; you can also exclude common public holidays.
Exclude public holidays (US federal)
How Working Days Are Counted
This calculator counts calendar days from the start date to the end date (inclusive of both), then subtracts Saturdays, Sundays, and any selected public holidays that fall within the range.
Example: The working days between Monday March 2 and Friday March 6 is 5 (Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri).
Whether to include the start and end dates depends on the context. For counting how many days of work exist in a window (e.g. a project sprint), including both endpoints is standard. For deadlines ("5 business days after today"), the first working day after today is day 1, and you'd exclude the start date — subtract 1 from the result.
Common Uses
Contract and legal deadlines — many contracts specify notice periods, payment terms, or response windows in business days rather than calendar days. "Net 30 business days" means 30 working days from the invoice date.
Project planning — sprint lengths, milestone schedules, and delivery estimates are easier to communicate in working days because weekends don't typically count for delivery timelines.
HR and leave management — calculating how many working days remain before a hire date, contract end, or probation review.
Court and legal filing deadlines — many jurisdictions count statutory response periods in business days. Always confirm the applicable jurisdiction's definition of "business day" (some exclude only weekends; others exclude all public holidays).
US Federal Holidays Reference
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | January 1 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | 3rd Monday of January |
| Presidents' Day | 3rd Monday of February |
| Memorial Day | Last Monday of May |
| Juneteenth | June 19 |
| Independence Day | July 4 |
| Labor Day | 1st Monday of September |
| Columbus Day | 2nd Monday of October |
| Veterans Day | November 11 |
| Thanksgiving | 4th Thursday of November |
| Christmas Day | December 25 |
When a holiday falls on a Saturday, the preceding Friday is typically observed. When it falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is observed. This calculator uses the observed dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are start and end dates included in the count?
Yes — both the start and end dates are included if they are working days. If your deadline calculation requires "N business days after today", subtract 1 from the result.
Can I exclude holidays from other countries?
The holiday options currently cover US federal holidays. If you need to exclude other countries' holidays, note which holidays fall in your range from the result and deduct them manually.
Why do my results differ from another calculator?
Different tools make different choices about whether to include endpoints, which holidays to count, and how to handle holidays that fall on weekends. Always confirm the applicable rules for your specific context.
