Count working days between two dates, add working days from a start date, or subtract them to find a prior date. Working days and business days are the same thing: Monday through Friday, excluding public holidays.
This calculator supports holiday calendars for twenty-five countries: the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Brazil, China, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, the Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, the UAE, and Vietnam. Whether you're an HR team calculating notice periods and payroll cycles, a project manager planning delivery timelines, or a finance team reconciling invoice terms across international offices, selecting the right country ensures your working day count reflects the holidays that actually apply to your team or counterparty.
This calculator provides general estimates based on business day counting rules. It does not constitute legal advice. Deadlines in legal, regulatory, or contractual matters may be subject to jurisdiction-specific rules, court orders, or statutory exceptions. Always verify critical deadlines with a qualified professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between working days and business days?
Working days and business days are interchangeable in most contexts. Both mean Monday through Friday, excluding public holidays. Internationally, the Mon-Fri standard applies across most of the twenty-five countries this calculator supports: the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, and Vietnam. The UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Egypt run a Sunday-Thursday workweek with a Friday-Saturday weekend, which this calculator applies automatically when you pick those countries. Some companies use alternate definitions (e.g., a 4-day work week), but for contracts, legal deadlines, and financial transactions, the country-default workweek is the universal standard.
How many working days are in a year?
A typical year has approximately 260 working days (52 weeks × 5 days). After subtracting public holidays, the count is roughly: US 249, UK 253, Canada 251, Australia 250, India varies by state (typically 245–252), Philippines 248. Use the 'Between Dates' tab with Jan 1 and Dec 31 for an exact count for any year.
How many working days in a month?
Most months have 20–23 working days. The exact count depends on the month, the starting day of the week, and any public holidays. February typically has the fewest (19–20) and months starting on Monday with no holidays can have 23.
Does the calculator count the start date?
No. The count begins the day after the start date. For example, if you start on Monday, day 1 is Tuesday. This matches the standard convention used in contracts, legal documents, and financial agreements.
Can I use this for payroll or HR calculations?
Yes. This calculator works well for determining the number of working days in a pay period, calculating prorated salary, scheduling employee notice periods, or estimating days worked in a given month or quarter.