Workday Estimator
Add N business days to a date
About This Calculator
The workday estimator finds the date that is exactly N business days from a starting date, skipping weekends and public holidays. It is used for SLA (service level agreement) deadlines, shipping estimates, contract notice periods, legal filing deadlines, and any business process with a day-count requirement excluding weekends.
Formula
Start from the start date, count forward N business days (Mon-Fri)
Skip Saturday and Sunday
Skip specified public holidays (country-dependent)
N business days ≠ N calendar days: 5 business days ≈ 7 calendar days
Example Calculation
3 business days from Wednesday, March 18, 2026
- Day 1: Thursday March 19
- Day 2: Friday March 20
- Skip Saturday March 21, Sunday March 22
- Day 3: Monday March 23
3 business days from March 18 = March 23, 2026
Business Days to Calendar Days (Approximate)
| Business Days | Min Calendar Days | Max Calendar Days | Avg Calendar Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 3 | 1.4 |
| 5 | 5 | 9 | 7 |
| 10 | 10 | 14 | 14 |
| 15 | 15 | 21 | 21 |
| 20 | 20 | 28 | 28 |
| 25 | 25 | 35 | 35 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an SLA and how do business days apply?
A Service Level Agreement (SLA) defines the maximum time to complete a task. '5 business day' SLAs are common for customer service, insurance claims, and government processing. Counting business days ensures weekends (when staff may not work) don't count against the deadline.
Do different countries have different business day definitions?
Yes. Weekend days vary: most Western countries have Saturday-Sunday off, while some Middle Eastern countries use Friday-Saturday. Public holidays differ significantly. A 10-business-day deadline for a US company can be different from the same deadline for a company in the UK or India.
How do I handle public holidays in business day calculations?
This tool estimates business days based on standard weekends. For accurate holiday-aware calculations, you need a holiday calendar for the specific country and possibly region (state/province). Legal documents should specify which jurisdiction's holiday calendar applies.
What is T+2 settlement?
In financial markets, T+2 means trades settle 2 business days after the trade date (T). This gives time to transfer securities and funds. The US moved from T+3 to T+2 in 2017, and is transitioning to T+1 for equity trades. This is a classic business day counting application.