How many working days in a year?

You’re settling back into work after a holiday and find your mind drifting to your next big break. As you start mentally planning some annual leave, you might be wondering how to maximise your days off or calculating how many days until the next holiday.

Whether you’re planning a trip or just looking forward to some down time, it’s helpful to understand the number of workdays in a year. It’s also important for project planning, scheduling, budgeting, payroll and much more. 

While the traditional working week has shifted to include working from home and non-traditional work hours, the typical workweek still exists, just in different forms. By the end of this article, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of how many working days there are in a year, along with insights into the factors that shape this number in different situations.

Calculating the working days in a year

Calculating the working days in a year isn’t as straightforward as it sounds. After all, there are many different things you need to factor in. This number can vary based on work schedules, public holidays and your employment arrangements. Let’s look at a few of the most common work schedules as a starting point. 

The five-day work week

The most common work schedule involves a standard five-day workweek, typically Monday to Friday, with weekends off. To calculate the working days:

• Start with the total number of days in a year (365 days, or 366 in a leap year).
• Subtract the weekends (or your 2 days off a week). With 52 weeks in a year, this is 104 weekend days.
• The answer is the approximate number of working days in a standard year.

Five-day work week and public holidays

In addition to weekends, it’s worth considering any public holidays throughout the year, where you can enjoy a day off. These can vary by state and territory, but include holidays like Easter long weekend, Anzac Day and the King’s Birthday. To calculate:

• Start with the basic calculation for a five-day workweek above.
• Subtract the number of public holidays, which can range from 8 to 13 days, depending on the state or territory.
• The answer gives you the total number of working days, taking into account weekends and public holidays.

Four-day work week or a 4–10 schedule

Some workplaces have a 4–10 work schedule, where employees work four days a week for 10 hours each day (to make up 40 hours a week in total). Here, the calculation changes:

• Multiply the number of weeks in a year by four (since there are four working days each week).
• Adjust for any public holidays that fall on a working day.

Having a Dupont schedule (rotating shift work)

The Dupont schedule, used in industries like manufacturing and healthcare, involves a rotating shift pattern. For this:

• Work out the cycle of the Dupont schedule (usually a four-week cycle).
• Count the number of working days in one cycle.
• Multiply this by the number of cycles in a year.

Having a part-time schedule

Part-time work schedules can vary. To calculate working days for part-time schedules:

• Determine the average number of days worked per week.
• Multiply this by the number of weeks in a year.
• Adjust for any public holidays that fall on scheduled workdays.

Factors to consider for working days in a year

The concept of a standard working week has shifted in the past few years with more people taking on part-time work, working from home or working around other commitments. Many other factors can influence the number of days a person works. Here are just a few to consider.

Days off

Typically this includes the standard weekends (Saturday and Sunday for most jobs) and any additional days, depending on your work schedule. If you have a non-traditional workweek, such as four days on and three days off, this will need to be factored into the calculation. Your employer might also give you a monthly rostered day off (RDO).

Holidays

Public holidays, religious holidays and personal holidays (trip to Fiji coming up?) all contribute to the number of non-working days in a year. Some holidays are fixed (like Christmas Day), while others might change dates each year (like Easter). Plus, if you’re lucky enough to have a trip planned, then make sure this is included in your calculations.

Different work schedules

The traditional nine-to-five, Monday-to-Friday schedule is no longer the only work pattern. There are now flexible options to account for different schedules. Here are some other work schedules that might apply:

• Shift work: common in healthcare, law enforcement and manufacturing, shift work can include night shifts, rotating shifts and irregular schedules.
• Compressed workweeks: such as the 4–10 schedule (four days a week, 10 hours each day) or the 9/80 schedule (80 hours over nine work days instead of 10, giving an extra weekday off).
• Part-time work: varies greatly in terms of days and hours worked per week.

Paid time off (PTO)

Paid time off, including vacation days, sick leave and personal days also impacts the number of working days. The amount of paid time off you have will vary based on company policy, length of employment and local labour laws. When calculating your working days, it’s important to subtract these days off, even though they are paid.

Importance of knowing the number of working days in a year

There are countless different reasons you might have for wanting to know the number of working days in a year. Whether it’s to help with financial planning, fulfil job expectations, set professional goals or gauge your work-life balance, here’s why being aware of this number is so important.

Understanding pay

It’s always great to do what you love when it comes to work, and just as important to be paid what you’re worth. It makes financial sense to work out how much you’re earning each year and whether that amount is being reflected in your paycheques. Here’s why:

• Hourly employees: those who earn wages based on the hours worked need to know the total working days to estimate their annual income accurately.
• Salaried employees: understanding the number of working days can help these employees see how their salary is broken down over the year.
• Freelancers and contractors: for those who work on a project basis, knowing the number of potential working days can help in planning schedules and estimating annual earnings.

Understanding job expectations 

When considering a new job or assessing a current position, understanding the number of working days is essential for:

• Evaluating job offers: knowing how many days you are expected to work can help you assess the workload and compare job offers.
• Setting realistic expectations: for both employers and employees, being clear about the number of working days helps set realistic expectations about productivity and workload management.

Planning work-life balance

Over the course of your working life, your work-life balance is likely to change. If you’re trying to find a healthier work-life balance, it’s essential to understand the number of working days in your yearly calendar:

• Scheduling time off: knowing your working days helps in planning vacations, scheduling personal time and finding hobbies and interests outside of work.
• Managing personal commitments: by being aware of your work schedule, you can better manage personal commitments, family time and other non-work-related activities.

Knowing the number of working days in a year is important for many reasons, whether you're considering a job offer, planning your budget or trying to set your freelance rates. While everyone’s workweek might look different, now that you know how this number is calculated, you can apply it to your work schedule – and start planning your next holiday!

FAQs

How many working days are in a year minus holidays?

There are about 251 working days in a year, minus holidays. This is based on a five-day workweek and takes into account 10 public holidays (this varies betweem states, from eight to 13 days). This means the exact number can vary depending on the year and the specific holidays in each state or territory. 

How many 5-day work days in a year?

In a standard year, there are about 260 five-day (weekday) work days. This is calculated by multiplying 52 weeks in a year by five working days (Monday to Friday). However, this number does not account for public holidays or personal-leave days.

How can I calculate the number of weekdays in a specific date range?

To calculate the number of weekdays in a specific date range:

• Count the total number of days
• Subtract the weekends
• Adjust for any public holidays that fall on weekdays within the date range

How many work days in a month on average?

On average, there are 20 to 22 work days in a month. This is based on the standard five-day workweek. The exact number can vary depending on the month and how many weekends and public holidays fall within it.