Pay Period Calculator
Updated August 2026 · Free · No sign-up
Map your pay periods, paydays, and payroll cutoff dates for any schedule — weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly, or monthly. See your next six paydays and know exactly when timesheets must be in.
Quick answer: A pay period is the work window a paycheck covers; the payday follows it, and the payroll cutoff is usually 3-5 days before payday — hours worked after cutoff land in the next check. Biweekly schedules (26 periods) are the most common in the US.
Pay Period, Payday, Cutoff — Three Different Dates
The trio that confuses every new hire: the pay period is the span of days your check covers (say, July 6-19); the payday is when that money arrives (say, July 24 — periods usually pay 3-7 days in arrears); and the cutoff is when payroll locks the numbers (say, July 21). Hours submitted after cutoff aren't lost — they roll into the next check, which is why a big overtime week sometimes "goes missing" and then appears a paycheck later.
The Four Schedules Compared
| Schedule | Paydays/yr | Period length | Where common | Quirk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly | 52 | 7 days | Construction, hourly trades | Smallest checks, fastest OT visibility |
| Biweekly | 26 | 14 days | Most US employers | Two 3-paycheck months yearly; 27-payday years every ~11 years |
| Semi-monthly | 24 | ~15 days (1st-15th, 16th-EOM) | Salaried/professional | Payday shifts when 15th/31st is a weekend; splits FLSA workweeks |
| Monthly | 12 | Calendar month | Outside the US; executives | Longest wait; simplest accounting |
Worked Examples
Example 1 — biweekly mapping. Last payday Friday, July 24, 2026 with a 4-day cutoff: next paydays Aug 7, Aug 21, Sep 4…, each covering the two weeks ending the prior Sunday-ish, with cutoffs on the Monday before each payday. The calculator lists your next six.
Example 2 — semi-monthly weekend shift. A "15th and last day" schedule in August 2026: the 15th is a Saturday → payday moves to Friday the 14th (most employers pay early, a few pay Monday after — policy detail worth knowing).
Example 3 — the missing overtime. Overtime worked July 22-23 with a July 21 cutoff appears in the August 7 check, not July 24's. Not an error — arrears in action. Verify against your own records with the time card calculator.
Payroll Cutoffs: Why They Exist and How to Live With Them
Payroll needs 2-5 days to collect approvals, compute taxes, and push bank files (ACH transfers take 1-2 business days). Practical rules: submit timesheets before leaving for any vacation that spans a cutoff; expense reimbursements riding payroll follow the same cutoffs; and corrections after cutoff become next-period adjustments or (for underpayments in some states) mandatory off-cycle checks. New joiners: starting just after a cutoff means your first check may take 3+ weeks and might be a partial — computed exactly like a prorated salary.
Reading Your Paystub Dates
- "Period beginning/ending": the work window — check your hours against this range, not the payday.
- "Pay date": the legal payment date — state payday-frequency laws (e.g., semi-monthly minimums in several states) key off this.
- Arrears gap: payday minus period-end, usually 3-7 days. A final paycheck's timing rules override normal arrears in many states — see the final paycheck calculator.
- Holiday collisions: paydays landing on bank holidays generally pay the prior business day — the built-in calendars in the deadline calculator flag them.
Budgeting by Schedule
Biweekly earners: build the monthly budget on 2 checks and bank the two annual 3-check months (the full playbook is in the biweekly pay calculator). Semi-monthly earners get fixed dates but uneven day-counts per period (13-16 days) — relevant for hourly staff whose semi-monthly checks genuinely vary. Weekly earners: your OT feedback loop is 7 days, the fastest error-detection of any schedule — check every stub.
For Employers: Choosing and Changing Schedules
Biweekly aligns with FLSA workweeks (clean overtime), semi-monthly aligns with accounting months (clean books) — hourly-heavy workforces should almost always be biweekly. Changing schedules mid-year requires notice, state-law checks (payday frequency minimums), and a transition period where employees may briefly wait longer for money — communicate the bridge, or offer a one-time advance. Cutoff discipline beats cutoff length: a reliable 3-day cutoff serves everyone better than a sloppy 5-day one.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a pay period?
The span of workdays one paycheck covers — 7 days (weekly), 14 (biweekly), about 15 (semi-monthly), or a month. The payday follows the period, usually 3-7 days later.
What is a payroll cutoff date?
The day payroll locks hours and changes for the upcoming payday — typically 3-5 days before it. Work submitted after cutoff pays in the following check.
How many pay periods are in a year?
Weekly 52, biweekly 26 (27 every ~11 years), semi-monthly 24, monthly 12.
Why is my paycheck missing recent hours?
Arrears + cutoff: hours worked after the cutoff belong to the next period. They are not lost — match your paystub's "period ending" date against your own time records.
What happens when payday falls on a weekend or holiday?
Most employers pay the preceding business day; a minority pay the next one. It is a written-policy detail — worth confirming before your first rent-day collision.
What is the difference between biweekly and semi-monthly?
Biweekly = every 14 days, 26 checks, weekday-fixed. Semi-monthly = twice monthly on fixed dates, 24 slightly larger checks. Annual totals are identical.
When is my first paycheck at a new job?
After the first full-or-partial period you work PLUS the arrears gap — commonly 2-4 weeks after starting. Starting just after a cutoff stretches it longest, and the first check may be prorated.
Can my employer change the pay schedule?
Yes, with reasonable notice and within state payday-frequency laws. Transitions can lengthen one wait — well-run changes include a bridge plan or advance.
How late can a paycheck legally be?
Pay dates are binding: most US states require payment on the scheduled day, with penalties for late wages. Chronic lateness is a wage-claim matter, not an inconvenience.
Do expense reimbursements follow payroll cutoffs?
When paid through payroll, yes — same cutoff, same payday. Separate AP-based reimbursements run on their own calendar.
✓ Formula verified • Last updated: August 20, 2026