Days Between Holidays Calculator
The gap between two holidays (or any two dates) is just the difference between their calendar dates, but it helps to see that gap several ways. This calculator takes a start and end date and returns the span in calendar days, full weeks, and weekdays (Monday to Friday). Because US federal holidays move year to year (Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday in November, and weekend holidays shift to the nearest weekday), the tool does not hardcode dates: enter the actual observed dates for your year, taken from the Office of Personnel Management federal holiday schedule.
Days between dates formula
Calendar days = (end date - start date) in days
Weeks = calendar days / 7
Inclusive days = calendar days + 1
Weekdays = count of days from start+1 through end that are Mon to Fri
Dates are compared at midnight UTC to avoid daylight-saving drift. The weekday count walks each day in the span and includes Monday through Friday only.
US federal holiday context
- The federal government observes 11 holidays, several set by weekday rule rather than fixed date.
- Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday in November; Labor Day is the first Monday in September.
- A fixed-date holiday on a Saturday is usually observed the preceding Friday; on a Sunday, the following Monday.
- Private employers are not required to follow the federal holiday schedule.
- Because dates move, this tool takes the dates you enter rather than assuming any fixed calendar.
Days between holidays: frequently asked questions
How do I count the days between two holidays?
Subtract the earlier date from the later date. This calculator returns the difference in whole calendar days. Because holiday dates vary by year (and some federal holidays move to the nearest weekday), enter the actual dates for the year you care about rather than relying on fixed dates.
Does it count weekdays only?
It shows both. The calendar-days figure counts every day. The weekdays figure counts only Monday through Friday in the span, which is useful for estimating working days between two holidays. Public holidays falling within the span are not separately removed from the weekday count.
Are the start and end dates included?
The calendar-day count is the plain difference between the two dates, so it excludes the start date and includes the end date (an exclusive-start, inclusive-end span). If you want both endpoints counted as full days, add one to the result.
Why do US federal holiday dates change each year?
Several federal holidays are set by weekday rule rather than a fixed date, for example Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday in November and Labor Day is the first Monday in September. Fixed-date holidays that fall on a weekend are observed on the nearest weekday for federal employees. Always use the actual observed date for your year.
Can I use this for non-holiday dates?
Yes. The calculator simply counts the span between any two dates you enter, so it works equally well for project milestones, anniversaries, deadlines, or any pair of calendar dates.
Official sources
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management: Federal Holidays.
- National Institute of Standards and Technology: Time and Frequency Division.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 17 June 2026. See our methodology.