UK Working Days Calculator — Count Business Days Between Dates
Bank holidays in this range
- Friday, 3 April 2026Good Friday
- Monday, 6 April 2026Easter Monday
How Working Days Are Calculated
A working day is any Monday to Friday that is not a UK public bank holiday. Saturdays, Sundays, and bank holidays are all excluded from the count.
Bank holidays differ by UK region. England and Wales share the same set. Scotland has its own holidays — notably 2 January and St Andrew's Day (30 November) — and does not observe Easter Monday. Northern Ireland has additional holidays: St Patrick's Day (17 March) and the Battle of the Boyne (12 July).
When a bank holiday falls on a weekend, the government assigns a substitute weekday (usually the following Monday). This calculator uses the official observed dates from gov.uk — so the substitute day is excluded, not the original calendar date.
UK Bank Holidays 2026
| Date | Holiday | E&W | SCO | NI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 1 Jan | New Year's Day | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fri 2 Jan | 2nd January | — | ✓ | — |
| Tue 17 Mar | St Patrick's Day | — | — | ✓ |
| Fri 3 Apr | Good Friday | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mon 6 Apr | Easter Monday | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| Mon 4 May | Early May bank holiday | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mon 25 May | Spring bank holiday | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mon 13 Jul | Battle of the Boyne (sub) | — | — | ✓ |
| Mon 3 Aug | Summer bank holiday | — | ✓ | — |
| Mon 31 Aug | Summer bank holiday | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| Mon 30 Nov | St Andrew's Day | — | ✓ | — |
| Fri 25 Dec | Christmas Day | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mon 28 Dec | Boxing Day (substitute) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many working days are in 2026?
England & Wales has 253 working days in 2026 (365 days minus 104 weekend days minus 8 bank holidays). Scotland has 252 due to the additional 2 January holiday. Northern Ireland has 251 due to the addition of St Patrick's Day and the Battle of the Boyne.
Do bank holidays differ across the UK?
Yes. England and Wales share the same 8 bank holidays. Scotland has 9, adding 2 January and St Andrew's Day (and does not observe Easter Monday). Northern Ireland has 10, with the addition of St Patrick's Day (17 March) and the Battle of the Boyne/Orangemen's Day (12 July, or substitute).
What happens when a bank holiday falls on a weekend?
A substitute bank holiday is given on the next available weekday, usually the following Monday. For example, Boxing Day 2026 falls on a Saturday, so Monday 28 December is the substitute bank holiday.
Are working days the same as business days?
In the UK, the terms are generally used interchangeably. Both refer to Monday to Friday, excluding public bank holidays. However, some contracts or legal contexts may define them differently, so always check the specific terms.
Does this calculator account for school holidays or company shutdowns?
No, this calculator only excludes weekends and official UK bank holidays. School holidays and company-specific closures vary and would need to be accounted for separately.