Working Days Calculator
Instantly calculate the number of business days between two dates. Perfect for project planning, leave tracking, and delivery estimates.
Calculate Business Days
Enter your start and end dates below to instantly determine the total number of working days, excluding weekends and any additional holidays you specify.
Date Range Estimator
Calculate precise working days between any two dates.
Project Planning Best Practices
Maximise accuracy in your timelines
Define Your Baseline
Always clarify with clients or employers whether “days” means calendar days or working days to avoid missed deadlines.
Account for Local Holidays
A 30-day project in the UK might lose 1–2 days to bank holidays, depending on the month and region (e.g., Scotland has different holidays).
Buffer for Delays
Always add a 10–15% time buffer to your working day calculations to accommodate unexpected supplier or team delays.
International Projects
For global teams, remember that weekends and public holidays vary by country (e.g., Friday–Saturday weekends in some regions).
Average Working Days Breakdown (UK)
A general overview of typical working days in a standard year, based on a Monday–Friday schedule and England & Wales bank holidays.
| Time Period | Total Calendar Days | Weekend Days | Avg. Working Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Month | 30 – 31 | ~8 | ~21 – 22 |
| Standard Quarter | 90 – 92 | ~26 | ~63 – 64 |
| Standard Year (Non-Leap) | 365 | 104 | ~253 (minus 8 bank holidays) |
| Leap Year | 366 | 104 or 105 | ~253 – 254 (minus 8 bank holidays) |
Working Days FAQ
Answers to the most frequently asked questions about calculating business days, timelines, and holidays.
Working days are calculated by counting the total number of days between a start and end date, then subtracting any days that fall on a weekend (Saturday and Sunday) and any specified public or bank holidays.
No, standard working days (or business days) typically refer to Monday through Friday. Weekends (Saturday and Sunday) are excluded unless specifically stated otherwise in a contract or service level agreement.
In a standard 365-day year, there are typically 260 weekdays. After subtracting 8 standard bank holidays (in England and Wales), the average number of working days in a year is approximately 252 to 253 days.
Generally, no. Public and bank holidays are non-working days for most businesses, schools, and government offices in the UK. However, essential services, retail, and hospitality may still operate on these days.
Yes, the calculation is inclusive of both the start date and the end date. For example, the working days between a Monday and the following Friday is 5 days.