Working Days Between Dates Calculator
This Working Days Between Dates Calculator helps you calculate the number of working days between two dates by excluding weekends and optional holidays. It is widely used by employees, HR professionals, payroll teams, project managers, and freelancers.
Along with instant calculation, this page explains how working days are calculated, how weekends and holidays affect results, and how to plan deadlines, notice periods, and payroll accurately.
Calculate Working Days Between Two Dates
What Are Working Days?
Working days are the days when businesses, offices, schools, and organizations are operational. In most countries, working days are Monday through Friday, excluding weekends and public holidays.
Understanding working days is critical for payroll calculation, project planning, notice period computation, leave management, and legal compliance.
How Working Days Between Dates Are Calculated
The calculation starts by counting the total number of calendar days between the selected start and end dates. From this total, weekends and optional holidays are excluded based on the selected rules.
Why Working Days Matter in Real Life
Payroll and Salary Calculations
Working days are used to calculate daily wages, prorated salaries, and deductions for unpaid leave.
Project Planning and Deadlines
Project timelines are based on working days, not calendar days. Incorrect calculations often lead to missed deadlines.
Notice Period and Employment Planning
Many companies calculate notice periods using working days, especially when weekends are excluded.
Working Days Calculation Examples
| Start Date | End Date | Rule | Working Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 March | 31 March | Exclude Weekends | 21–23 |
| 1 March | 31 March | Include All Days | 31 |
| 10 Jan | 20 Jan | Exclude Weekends | 7–8 |
Exclude Weekends vs Include All Days
Excluding weekends gives a realistic count of working days, while including all days is useful for calendar-based calculations.
Working Days vs Business Days
The terms are often used interchangeably, but business days may also exclude public holidays, depending on local rules.
How Holidays Affect Working Days
Public and company-specific holidays reduce the number of working days. Some organizations exclude only national holidays, while others exclude regional or optional holidays.
Common Working Days Calculation Mistakes
- Assuming all months have the same number of working days
- Ignoring public holidays
- Confusing calendar days with working days
- Not confirming weekend policy
How to Plan Using Working Days
Accurate working day calculations help plan notice periods, project deadlines, payroll cutoffs, and leave balances.
Related Work & HR Calculators
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Saturdays considered working days?
Usually no, unless specified by company policy.
Do holidays count as working days?
Typically no, but policies vary.
Is this calculator accurate?
Yes, it follows standard working-day logic.
Can I use this for payroll?
Yes, for estimation and planning.
Disclaimer
This calculator provides general guidance only. Always follow official company or legal rules.