How to calculate business days between dates
Set Start date and End date, choose the weekdays that count as workdays, then enter any dates to remove in Holidays to exclude. The calculator includes both ends of the range when they match the selected workweek and are not holidays.
- Enter a valid Start date and End date.
- Check or uncheck Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, and Sun. Monday through Friday is selected by default.
- Enter dates in Holidays to exclude, one per line or separated by commas.
- Click Calculate business days and read the Result section.
How the business day count works
The calculation checks every calendar date in the inclusive range. It keeps dates whose weekday is selected, then removes entered holidays that fall on those workdays.
Start date: 2026-01-01
End date: 2026-01-07
Workweek: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
Holidays to exclude: 2026-01-01
Business days: 4Five dates match the Monday-to-Friday workweek in this range: January 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7. The entered holiday removes January 1, leaving four business days.
- Duplicate holiday entries are counted once.
- Holidays outside the date range or selected workweek have no effect.
Business days calculator input rules
Start date and End date must be valid calendar dates, and End date must be on or after Start date. Select at least one weekday. The inclusive range can contain up to 36,600 calendar days.
Each holiday must use YYYY-MM-DD, such as 2026-01-01. The Holidays to exclude field accepts one date per line or comma-separated dates. The calculator rejects invalid dates, invalid holiday entries, an empty workweek, and ranges over 36,600 days.
What the business days result shows
Result lists the business-day count, total calendar days, excluded holidays, selected workweek, matching workdays before holidays, entered holidays, and holidays with no effect. The assumptions table includes the start and end dates and the holiday dates removed from counted workdays.
Copy result puts the plain-text summary on the clipboard. Download result (.txt) saves that summary as a .txt file. Changing an input hides the previous result until you calculate again.
Where this comes up
- For a project schedule, enter the kickoff and delivery dates, then add company closure dates in Holidays to exclude.
- For a Sunday-to-Thursday workweek, select Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed, and Thu. Leave Fri and Sat unchecked.
- For a service window, review the holidays with no effect before copying the calculation into a planning note.
When another date calculator fits better
Use Date and Time Calculators to browse the category. Choose Date Add Calculator when you have one date and need to add or subtract days, weeks, months, or years. Choose Date Difference Calculator when you need an exact difference in days, weeks, or calendar years, months, and days. For shifts, breaks, weekly hours, and overtime, use Timesheet Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate business days between two dates?
Enter Start date and End date, choose the workweek, add any dates in Holidays to exclude, and click Calculate business days. The calculator counts selected weekdays in the inclusive range, then removes matching holidays.
Are the start and end dates included in business days?
Yes. Both dates count when they fall on selected workdays and are not entered as holidays.
Can I count business days with a custom workweek?
Yes. Check or uncheck Mon through Sun to define the workweek. The count uses exactly the weekdays you select.
Does the calculator apply public holidays automatically?
No. The calculator considers only dates entered in Holidays to exclude. A holiday outside the range or workweek has no effect.