How Many Working Days Are in 2026?
Updated October 25, 2026 · Sources linked in the text
There are 250 working days in 2026 (261 weekdays minus 11 federal holidays), or 2,000 working hours at 8 hours a day. 2027 has 249 working days (1,992 hours) because New Year's Day 2028 is observed on Friday, December 31, 2027.
Working days and hours by month
| Month | 2026 days | 2026 hours | 2027 days | 2027 hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20 | 160 | 19 | 152 |
| February | 19 | 152 | 19 | 152 |
| March | 22 | 176 | 23 | 184 |
| April | 22 | 176 | 22 | 176 |
| May | 20 | 160 | 20 | 160 |
| June | 21 | 168 | 21 | 168 |
| July | 22 | 176 | 21 | 168 |
| August | 21 | 168 | 22 | 176 |
| September | 21 | 168 | 21 | 168 |
| October | 21 | 168 | 20 | 160 |
| November | 19 | 152 | 20 | 160 |
| December | 22 | 176 | 21 | 168 |
| Total | 250 | 2,000 | 249 | 1,992 |
Monday to Friday, minus the 11 federal holidays on the days they are observed, at 8 hours a day. Private employers choose their own holidays, so your count may differ.
Federal holidays
| Holiday | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thu, Jan 1 | Fri, Jan 1 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Mon, Jan 19 | Mon, Jan 18 |
| Washington's Birthday | Mon, Feb 16 | Mon, Feb 15 |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 25 | Mon, May 31 |
| Juneteenth | Fri, Jun 19 | Fri, Jun 18 |
| Independence Day | Fri, Jul 3 | Mon, Jul 5 |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 7 | Mon, Sep 6 |
| Columbus Day | Mon, Oct 12 | Mon, Oct 11 |
| Veterans Day | Wed, Nov 11 | Thu, Nov 11 |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thu, Nov 26 | Thu, Nov 25 |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25 | Fri, Dec 24 |
When a holiday falls on a Saturday it is observed on the Friday before, and on a Sunday the Monday after. New Year's Day 2028 is observed on Friday, December 31, 2027. Source
Working days vs paid hours
Pay calculations use 2,080 hours a year (40 hours for 52 weeks), not the working days above, because most full-time employees are paid for holidays and paid time off. A $25-an-hour job is $52,000 a year on 2,080 paid hours, even though only about 2,000 hours are worked in 2026. See the hourly to salary chart.
How many paydays are in 2026?
Weekly pay has 52 paychecks and every-two-weeks pay 26, except in years with 53 of your payday. 2026 has 53 Thursdays; 2027 has 53 Fridays. If your payday falls on one of those days, you may get 53 weekly paychecks, or 27 biweekly ones in the year a biweekly payday falls on January 1. See biweekly vs semi-monthly pay.
More guides
- How to Read a Pay Stub
- Form W-4 2026: Step-by-Step Walkthrough
- Biweekly vs Semi-Monthly Pay
- Why Your Paycheck Gets Bigger After the Social Security Cap
- How Much Tax Is Taken Out of My Paycheck?
- Minimum Wage Increases in 2027
- 1099 vs W-2: How Much More a Contractor Needs to Earn
- Who Gets Overtime Pay? FLSA Exemptions Explained
- Gross Pay vs Net Pay
- HSA vs FSA (2026): Limits, Rules and Your Paycheck
- No Tax on Tips (2026): Who Qualifies and How Much You Save
- FICA Tax (2026): Rates, Employer Match and What You Pay
- 401(k) Contribution Limit 2026: $24,500 Plus Catch-Up
- HSA vs FSA 2027: New Limits for Open Enrollment