Have you ever caught yourself wondering, “How many work days are there in a year?” Maybe you’re planning your vacation, tracking productivity, or calculating how much you’ll earn. Whatever your reason, knowing the actual number of workdays each year can help you make smarter, more informed decisions about your time and goals. In this guide, we’ll break it all down for you using real examples and simple math.
Whether you’re an employee trying to plan your year, a freelancer balancing projects, or an HR manager managing leave policies, understanding your working calendar is crucial. Let’s dive into the numbers and figure out how to make the most of the time you’ve got.
What Is Considered a Workday?
Before we start crunching numbers, it’s important to define what a “workday” actually is.
A workday typically refers to Monday through Friday — the standard business days — excluding weekends and national holidays. Of course, not everyone works a typical 9-to-5 job, and some industries operate seven days a week. But for the sake of this article, we’ll stick to the common five-day workweek format.
Standard Workday vs Business Day
A “business day” is often used interchangeably with a “workday,” but business days usually refer to days that banks and offices are open. So technically, all business days are workdays, but not all workdays are business days — especially in industries like retail or healthcare.
Basic Formula: Calculating Work Days in a Year
Let’s get down to the basics. There are:
- 365 days in a standard year
- 366 days in a leap year
- 52 weeks per year = 104 weekend days (Saturday + Sunday)
So, if we subtract weekends from a standard year:
365 – 104 = 261 potential workdays
From there, you subtract public holidays and any personal time off like vacation or sick days.
Work Days in a Standard Year (Non-Leap Year)
In a typical non-leap year like 2025:
- Total days: 365
- Weekends: 52 Saturdays + 52 Sundays = 104 days
- Common public holidays (e.g., 8 in the UK, 10–12 in the US)
So, if you subtract 104 weekends and, let’s say, 10 holidays:
365 – 104 – 10 = 251 workdays
This is your baseline — but it varies depending on where you live and work.
Work Days in a Leap Year
Leap years have 366 days instead of 365, with February having 29 days.
- Weekends: Still 104 days
- One extra weekday
- So, 366 – 104 = 262 potential workdays
Subtract holidays as usual, and you might end up with 252 or fewer workdays.
How Public Holidays Affect Work Days
Public holidays can significantly reduce your actual working days. Here’s a quick comparison:
- United Kingdom: Around 8 official public holidays
- United States: Typically 10 federal holidays
- Canada: Around 9–10 public holidays
- Australia: Around 7–11, depending on the state
If a holiday falls on a weekend, it may be “observed” on the nearest weekday, which also impacts total workdays.
Vacation Days and Paid Time Off (PTO)
Vacation days are another factor to consider when figuring out how many days you’ll actually be working in a year.
Read also – How to Write a Vacation Request Email (+ Tips & Examples)
- UK full-time workers get a minimum of 28 days of paid leave
- US workers average around 10–15 days of PTO, depending on tenure
- Some companies also offer unlimited PTO
So, if you’re in the UK and take all 28 days off:
251 workdays – 28 vacation days = 223 actual workdays
Now you can see how quickly that number can change depending on your job benefits.
Sick Days and Other Leave
Don’t forget sick days, parental leave, and personal time off. These can vary:
- Sick leave might be 5–10 days annually
- Some companies offer extended medical leave or mental health days
- Parental leave can span weeks or months
These aren’t always predictable, but they impact your total working time.
Differences by Country and Region
Now that we’ve broken down the basics, let’s explore how the number of workdays varies by location. This is especially helpful if you work with international teams or clients.
United States
- 365 total days
- 104 weekends
- 10 federal holidays (on average)
- 251 potential workdays (before vacation or sick days)
United Kingdom
- 365 total days
- 104 weekends
- 8 public holidays (on average)
- 253 potential workdays (before leave)
Canada
- 365 total days
- 104 weekends
- 9–10 public holidays
- Roughly 251–252 workdays
Australia
- 365 total days
- 104 weekends
- 7–11 holidays depending on state
- Estimated 250–253 workdays
As you can see, the number of workdays fluctuates based on regional holidays. If your team is global, be sure to account for these variations in planning.
How to Calculate Work Days for Your Own Schedule
Want to figure out how many workdays you specifically have? Here’s a simple step-by-step formula:
- Start with 365 (or 366 for a leap year).
- Subtract weekend days (usually 104).
- Subtract national and local holidays (check your country or company calendar).
- Subtract your planned vacation days.
- Subtract any planned sick/personal leave (if applicable).
Example:
- Year: 2025 (365 days)
- Weekends: 104
- Holidays: 8 (UK)
- Vacation: 20 days
365 – 104 – 8 – 20 = 233 actual workdays
Pretty straightforward, right?
Tools to Track Work Days
If math isn’t your favorite thing, no worries — there are great tools and calendars that help:
- Google Calendar: Set up working hours and holidays.
- Workday Calculator Apps: Like Workday.io, Timeanddate.com, or BusinessDaysCalculator.
- Spreadsheets: A custom Excel or Google Sheet can do the trick too.
These tools can make it much easier to plan your work year.
Why Knowing Your Work Days Matters
You might be thinking, “This is interesting, but why does it matter?” Here’s why tracking workdays is super useful:
- Better project planning: Know how many days you actually have to get things done.
- Accurate goal setting: Helps you stay realistic with yearly targets or KPIs.
- Smarter time-off planning: Plan long weekends or trips around holidays.
- Work-life balance: Understand when you’ll be working hard and when you can take a breather.
How Employers Use Workday Calculations
For businesses, workday calculations are important for:
- Payroll
- Holiday scheduling
- Workforce planning
- Time tracking
- Productivity reporting
HR departments often calculate workdays to manage employee benefits, leave balances, and overall team performance.
How Freelancers and Contractors Benefit
If you’re self-employed, knowing your available workdays can help you:
- Set client deadlines
- Estimate availability
- Plan vacation in advance
- Avoid overbooking
It’s easy to forget about holidays or personal time when you’re your own boss. But you’re still human — and your time deserves structure.
Leap Years and Long Weekends
Every four years, leap years add one extra day — February 29. If this day lands on a weekday, lucky you: one extra workday (or maybe a day off if you’re strategic!).
Also, long weekends — when holidays fall on a Friday or Monday — give a chance to take time off without sacrificing too many paid leave days. These are perfect for quick getaways or rest days.
Tips for Making the Most of Your Workdays
- Plan ahead: Use a calendar to map out holidays and planned leave.
- Batch tasks: Group similar tasks together to work more efficiently.
- Use tools: Time-tracking and calendar tools help stay organized.
- Prioritize: Focus on high-impact tasks for better use of your time.
- Don’t forget breaks: Workdays include mental rest too!
Conclusion
So, how many work days in a year? The answer isn’t one-size-fits-all, but with the formulas and examples we’ve covered, you can calculate it precisely for your situation. Whether you’re planning vacation, scheduling projects, or just curious about how your year adds up, knowing your workdays is a great way to stay ahead.
Now it’s your turn: Open your calendar, plug in your holidays, and calculate your own work year. You might be surprised at how much — or how little — time you really have!
FAQs
1. Are weekends included in workdays?
No, weekends (Saturday and Sunday) are typically excluded from standard workdays.
2. How many workdays are in 2025?
There are 261 weekdays in 2025. Subtracting 10 public holidays leaves around 251 workdays.
3. Do sick days count as workdays?
Technically yes — but they’re not active workdays since you’re not working. Employers usually track them separately.
4. What’s the difference between a calendar day and a workday?
Calendar days include all days of the year. Workdays exclude weekends and holidays.
5. Can workdays vary by job?
Absolutely. Some industries like healthcare or hospitality operate on weekends, so their schedules differ from standard 9-to-5 jobs.
