Workdays Calculator: Count Business Days
How many working days are between two dates? Enter a start and end date and this workdays calculator counts every Monday to Friday in the range, excludes weekends, and subtracts any public holidays you list — perfect for leave balances, payroll and project planning.
The workdays formula
The calculator walks through every calendar day from the start date to the end date (both counted) and classifies each one.
- Total calendar days = end date − start date + 1
- Weekdays = days that are Monday–Friday
- Business days = weekdays − public holidays on weekdays (never below 0)
Weekend days are simply left out of the count, and holidays only reduce the total when they land on a weekday.
Worked example
From Monday 19 October 2026 to Friday 23 October 2026: the range holds 5 calendar days, all of them weekdays, with 0 weekend days. With no holidays, that is 5 workdays. If 2 public holidays fell on weekdays inside that range, the count would drop to 3 business days.
How to use the workdays calculator
Three inputs give you the answer. The date pickers work on desktop and mobile, and the holidays field is optional — most quick counts need only the two dates.
Step by step
- Pick the start date. The first day counts toward the total.
- Pick the end date. The last day counts too, so a one-day range on a Wednesday returns 1.
- Enter holidays (optional). Count only public holidays that land on a Monday–Friday inside your range.
- Press Calculate. You get business days plus the weekday, weekend and calendar-day breakdown.
Days versus hours
This calculator answers "how many workdays" — if your question is really "how many hours and minutes between two moments", you need the finer unit instead. A time duration calculator measures the exact hours, minutes and seconds between two dates and times.
What counts as a workday
The standard definition used here is simple: Monday to Friday counts, Saturday and Sunday do not. That matches the working week in most countries, though some regions work Sunday to Thursday or include Saturday mornings.
Included and excluded
| Day type | Counted? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monday–Friday | Yes | Counted unless it is a public holiday you enter |
| Saturday–Sunday | No | Always excluded from business days |
| Public holiday on a weekday | No | Subtracted via the holidays field |
| Public holiday on a weekend | No effect | Already excluded as a weekend — do not count it twice |
Partial weeks at the edges
A range rarely starts on Monday and ends on Friday. Starting Wednesday and ending the following Tuesday gives 5 weekdays (Wed, Thu, Fri, Mon, Tue) out of 7 calendar days. The day-by-day walk handles these edges exactly — no estimation involved.
Common uses for workday counts
Workday arithmetic quietly powers a lot of office maths. Getting the count right avoids short-paying leave, misquoting delivery times and planning projects on days nobody is in.
Where the count gets used
| Use case | What to count | Holiday handling |
|---|---|---|
| Annual leave balance | Leave start to end dates | Subtract public holidays inside the leave |
| Payroll for daily-rate staff | Pay period dates | Subtract paid public holidays if unpaid |
| Project timelines | Task start to deadline | Subtract company shutdown days |
| Notice periods | Resignation to last day | Check whether local rules count holidays |
Counting down to a deadline
Once you know a project needs, say, 20 workdays, the natural next question is which calendar date that lands on. A countdown calculator tracks the days, hours and minutes remaining until that target date so the whole team sees the same finish line.
Holidays and regional calendars
Public holidays differ by country, region and even employer, so the calculator asks you for the number rather than guessing. Enter only the holidays that fall on weekdays inside your range — a Saturday holiday is already excluded as a weekend.
Holiday entry guide
| Situation | Enter | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 2 holidays, both on weekdays | 2 | Both reduce the business-day count |
| 1 holiday on a Saturday | 0 | Already excluded as a weekend day |
| Company shutdown, 3 weekdays | 3 | Shutdown days work exactly like holidays |
| Unsure about a date | Check first | Count the weekday holidays with a calendar before calculating |
A note on working weeks
This calculator uses the Monday–Friday week. If your organisation works a different week — common in parts of the Middle East with Sunday–Thursday weeks — count your own rest days manually and treat the result as a weekday total minus your specific non-working days.
Frequently asked questions
Do weekends count as workdays?
No. Saturday and Sunday are always excluded from the business-day count. The calculator shows the weekend-day total separately so you can see exactly what was left out of your range.
Are the start and end dates included?
Yes, both dates are counted. A range from Monday to Friday of the same week gives 5 workdays, and a single Wednesday on its own gives 1. This inclusive counting matches how leave and notice periods are usually measured.
How do I handle public holidays?
Count how many public holidays fall on a Monday–Friday inside your range and enter that number in the holidays field. Holidays on weekends need no entry because weekends are already excluded.
What is the difference between business days and working days?
Nothing in practice — the terms are used interchangeably. Both mean weekdays excluding public holidays. Some industries say 'business days' for delivery estimates and 'working days' for HR, but the count is identical.
Can I use dates in the past?
Yes. The calculation is pure calendar arithmetic, so past and future ranges work the same way. Past ranges are handy for checking payroll periods or reconstructing a project timeline.
How many workdays are in a year?
Roughly 260 weekdays in a common year (52 weeks × 5), minus public holidays — typically around 250 depending on the country. For an exact figure, enter 1 January to 31 December with your holiday count in the calculator above.
Why do project plans use workdays instead of calendar days?
Because work only happens on working days. A '10-day task' starting on a Friday needs two calendar weeks to finish, and quoting calendar days would promise delivery a week early. Workday counts keep estimates honest.
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