What Are Business Days?
A business day (also called a working day) is any day that is not a weekend — typically Monday through Friday. In most countries, Saturday and Sunday are non-working days. Some calculators and contract terms also exclude public holidays, though this calculator counts Monday–Friday only, without adjusting for holidays, because holiday calendars vary by country and region.
When a contract says "net 30 days" or a shipping estimate says "5–7 business days," these terms refer to working days, not calendar days. That's why a 10-business-day deadline set on a Monday doesn't fall on Thursday two weeks later — it falls on Monday, skipping the two intervening weekends.
Common Uses for Business Day Counting
- Calculating payment due dates (net 30, net 60)
- Estimating shipping and delivery windows
- Project management deadline tracking
- Legal and contract timelines
- Employee notice period calculations
- Regulatory filing deadlines
Business Days vs Calendar Days
The difference between calendar days and business days depends on how many weekends fall in the period. Over a 30-calendar-day period, you can expect roughly 22 business days. Over a 7-day week, there are exactly 5 business days. When planning ahead, it's important to use the right measure — a contract that says "14 business days" is actually 18–20 calendar days depending on when it starts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this calculator account for public holidays?
No. This calculator counts Monday–Friday only and does not subtract public holidays. Holiday calendars vary widely by country, region, and even industry. If you need to account for specific holidays, subtract them manually from the business days result.
Is the start date included in the count?
This calculator counts business days from the day after the start date through and including the target date. This is the standard convention for most business and legal date calculations.
What if my target date falls on a weekend?
The calculator will still show the total business days up to that date. However, in most business contexts a deadline that falls on a weekend is effectively moved to the next Monday. You can verify this using the "Arrives On" indicator in the results.