Business Days / Workday Calculator
Quickly count how many business days fall between two dates, or project a deadline by adding a set number of workdays. This is useful for planning project milestones, shipping ETAs, invoice terms (Net 30/45), compliance filings, school schedules, and any timeline where weekends and holidays change the math.
The Business Days / Workday Calculator helps you move forward or backward from a start date, optionally exclude weekends, and account for holiday lists so the date you promise is the date you can meet. The goal is reliable scheduling-no hand-counting on calendars-so you can set realistic due dates, coordinate handoffs, and manage lead times with confidence. Enter your details below to get an instant, precise result.
Enter a start and end date to see total business days - adjust for holidays and weekends with one click.
Enter Your Start & End Dates
Business Days / Workday Results
Steps
- Span 2026-01-13 → 2026-01-27 (inclusive of end date).
- Counted 15 calendar day(s): 11 weekday(s) minus 0 holiday(s), and 4 weekend day(s).
- Business days = weekdays − holidays on weekdays = 11.
Results interpretation
- Business days count Monday–Friday and exclude weekends and any holidays you provide.
- Include end date adds the final day to the count if it’s a weekday and not a holiday.
- Who it’s for: payroll cutoffs, SLAs, invoice due dates, shipping windows, school/work planning.
How to use the Business Days / Workday Calculator
- Enter the start and end dates (YYYY-MM-DD).
- Toggle Include end date if the final day should count.
- Paste any holidays (one per line or comma-separated) you want to skip.
- Read the Business days, Weekend days skipped, and Holidays skipped in the results.
- Use Copy link with inputs to share or revisit the same setup.
How this calculator works
Formula, steps & assumptions
We traverse each day in your span and classify it as a weekday or weekend. Weekdays are reduced by any holidays you provide. If “include end date” is on, the final date is counted when it’s a valid business day.
Formally, letting W be weekdays and H be holidays falling on weekdays,BusinessDays = W − H. Weekends are any Saturday/Sunday inside the span.
Assumptions: Saturday/Sunday weekend; holidays must be provided explicitly in YYYY-MM-DD. Observed/rolling rules are not inferred automatically.
Use cases & examples
Example 1 (work week): 01-06-2025 → 01-10-2025 (include end) → 5 business days.
Example 2 (skip a holiday): 2025-07-01 → 2025-07-07 with holiday 2025-07-04 → 4 business days (weekends: 2, holidays: 1).
Example 3 (exclusive end): 2025-03-01 → 2025-03-08 (end exclusive) → 5 business days.
Business Days Calculator: Count Workdays Between Dates (Skip Weekends & Holidays)
Our business days calculator is the fastest way to find how many workdays fall between two dates. Instead of guessing around weekends and office closures, you can paste a quick holiday list, choose whether to include the end date, and get a clean count of working days for payroll, SLAs, shipping windows, project timelines, school schedules, and more. Because it skips Saturdays and Sundays automatically and subtracts any holidays that land on weekdays, the output mirrors real-world availability and avoids the calendar math that often derails planning.
Why counting workdays matters
Deadlines, delivery promises, and regulatory requirements are usually written in business days, not calendar days. That difference can be large-five business days could be a full week apart on the calendar when a weekend sits in the middle. When you add holidays or office closures, the spread grows. A reliable workday counter ensures you communicate realistic timelines and keep teams and customers aligned.
Customize with holidays you actually observe
Holidays vary by country, state, company, and even project. This tool keeps it simple: paste the dates you observe in YYYY-MM-DD format-one per line or comma-separated. We exclude those days only when they fall on a weekday. Need observed dates (e.g., a Monday off when the holiday hits Sunday)? Just paste the observed date itself.
Common planning tips
- Pad timelines that cross long weekends or year-end slowdowns.
- Share your holiday list across teams to prevent mismatched expectations.
- Schedule handoffs on mornings, not late afternoons, to avoid extra days of drift.
Whether you’re quoting a delivery, setting a due date, or planning a sprint, accurate business day counts help you promise the right thing-and hit it.
Business Days - FAQ
What counts as a business day?
Monday–Friday. Saturdays and Sundays are skipped automatically. Holidays are skipped if you add them to the list and they fall on weekdays.
Should I include the end date?
Enable it when the due date itself is a working day you want counted; leave it off for ranges like “up to but not including the end date.”
How do I add holidays?
Paste dates in YYYY-MM-DD format, one per line or comma-separated. Only holidays that fall on weekdays inside the range are subtracted.
Are observed holidays handled automatically?
No. Observed rules vary. Add the observed date itself (e.g., Monday) to your list for full control.
Can I count dates in reverse?
Yes. Enter any order-the tool detects direction and counts correctly.
Does it handle partial days or hours?
No-this tool counts whole business days. For hours and partial days, use a time calculator or internal work rules.