Quarter of Year
What quarter is a date in?
About This Calculator
Fiscal quarters divide the year into four three-month periods. Many businesses use fiscal quarters for reporting earnings, budgeting, and performance reviews. The calendar quarter (Q1=Jan-Mar, Q2=Apr-Jun, Q3=Jul-Sep, Q4=Oct-Dec) is standard, but companies may use a fiscal year starting on a different date.
Formula
Calendar Q1: January–March (days 1-90/91)
Calendar Q2: April–June (days 91-181/182)
Calendar Q3: July–September (days 182-273/274)
Calendar Q4: October–December (days 274-365/366)
Fiscal quarter: same 3-month blocks but offset to company's fiscal year start
Example Calculation
What quarter is July 15?
- July is month 7
- Q3 = months 7, 8, 9
- July 15 falls in Q3
July 15 is in Q3 (third quarter)
Calendar Quarters
| Quarter | Months | Start | End | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | January–March | Jan 1 | Mar 31 | 90 (91 in leap year) |
| Q2 | April–June | Apr 1 | Jun 30 | 91 |
| Q3 | July–September | Jul 1 | Sep 30 | 92 |
| Q4 | October–December | Oct 1 | Dec 31 | 92 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a fiscal year?
A fiscal year is a 12-month accounting period that doesn't necessarily align with the calendar year. The US government's fiscal year runs October 1 – September 30. Many US corporations use a calendar year (Jan–Dec); retailers often end their fiscal year in January after the holiday season.
What does YTD mean?
Year-to-Date (YTD) refers to the period from the beginning of the current year (or fiscal year) to the current date. Q1 YTD is January 1 through March 31. Financial reports often compare current YTD to prior year YTD for context.
What is 'quarter-over-quarter' (QoQ)?
Quarter-over-quarter compares a metric from one quarter to the immediately preceding quarter. It shows short-term trends. 'Year-over-year' (YoY) compares to the same quarter in the prior year, which controls for seasonal effects.
When do companies report quarterly earnings?
Publicly traded US companies report earnings about 4-6 weeks after each quarter ends. Q1 (Jan-Mar) results typically come in April-May; Q2 in July-August; Q3 in October-November; Q4/annual in January-February. Earnings calls are closely watched by investors.