What the business days calculator counts
Business days, also called working days or workdays, are the weekdays that are not public holidays. This calculator counts them between any two dates. It takes out the weekend days, excludes US federal holidays on the day offices are actually closed, and leaves out any custom holidays you add. Next to the business days you see the calendar days, the weekend days and every holiday it found, listed by name.
Use it for delivery times, payment terms, notice periods, court and filing deadlines, or to count the workdays in a project or a pay period.
How the count works
Both dates are included by default, like NETWORKDAYS in a spreadsheet. A holiday that lands on a weekend day is not subtracted twice. Example: Monday, December 21 to Thursday, December 31, 2026 has 11 calendar days, 2 weekend days and 1 holiday, Christmas on Friday, December 25. That leaves 8 business days.
Observed holidays
Most federal holidays are tied to a weekday, like Labor Day on the first Monday in September, so they always fall on a workday. Five are fixed dates: New Year's Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Veterans Day and Christmas Day. When one of them falls on a Saturday, federal offices close on the Friday before. When it falls on a Sunday, they close on the Monday after. That day off is the date the calculator excludes.
Banks follow the Federal Reserve schedule, which does not move Saturday holidays to Friday, and private employers set their own holiday calendar. Adjust with custom holidays if your days off differ.
US federal holidays 2026
| Holiday | Date | Day off |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thu, Jan 1, 2026 | Same day |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Mon, Jan 19, 2026 | Same day |
| Washington's Birthday (Presidents Day) | Mon, Feb 16, 2026 | Same day |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 25, 2026 | Same day |
| Juneteenth | Fri, Jun 19, 2026 | Same day |
| Independence Day | Sat, Jul 4, 2026 | Fri, Jul 3, 2026 |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 7, 2026 | Same day |
| Columbus Day | Mon, Oct 12, 2026 | Same day |
| Veterans Day | Wed, Nov 11, 2026 | Same day |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thu, Nov 26, 2026 | Same day |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25, 2026 | Same day |
US federal holidays 2027
| Holiday | Date | Day off |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | Same day |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Mon, Jan 18, 2027 | Same day |
| Washington's Birthday (Presidents Day) | Mon, Feb 15, 2027 | Same day |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 31, 2027 | Same day |
| Juneteenth | Sat, Jun 19, 2027 | Fri, Jun 18, 2027 |
| Independence Day | Sun, Jul 4, 2027 | Mon, Jul 5, 2027 |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 6, 2027 | Same day |
| Columbus Day | Mon, Oct 11, 2027 | Same day |
| Veterans Day | Thu, Nov 11, 2027 | Same day |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thu, Nov 25, 2027 | Same day |
| Christmas Day | Sat, Dec 25, 2027 | Fri, Dec 24, 2027 |
New Year's Day 2028 falls on a Saturday, so its day off is Fri, Dec 31, 2027.
How to use the business days calculator
- 1Enter the first and the last date of the period. Untick the include boxes if one of them should not count.
- 2Check the weekend days and whether federal holidays should be excluded. Add your own days off with the custom holidays field.
- 3Read the number of business days and the list of holidays found, then copy the result or a link that keeps every setting.
Frequently asked questions
How do I count business days between two dates?
Count every day in the period, then take off the Saturdays and Sundays and any holidays that fall on a weekday. From Monday, December 21 to Thursday, December 31, 2026 are 11 days. Minus 2 weekend days and Christmas on Friday, that leaves 8 business days.
Are the start and end dates included?
Yes, both are included by default, the same way the NETWORKDAYS function in Excel and Google Sheets counts. Untick "Include start date" or "Include end date" if your rule counts from the day after, which is common for deadlines like "within 10 business days".
Which US federal holidays are excluded?
The 11 holidays set by federal law: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Each is counted on its observed day off.
What if a holiday falls on a weekend?
For federal employees, a holiday on a Saturday is observed on the Friday before, and one on a Sunday on the Monday after. The calculator uses these observed dates. Banks and private employers do not always follow the same rule, so check yours and add or remove days if needed.
Can I use a different weekend or add my own days off?
Yes. Pick the days that count as your weekend, for example Friday and Saturday, or only Sunday for a six day week. Add company holidays, a vacation or state holidays under custom holidays and they are taken out of the count as well.