Working Days Calculator Guide - Business Days UK

Working days exclude weekends and public holidays. Knowing how to calculate them is essential for project deadlines, delivery windows, legal timeframes, and understanding how many days you actually work (and get paid for) each month.

This guide explains how to calculate working days in the UK, lists bank holidays for 2025, and covers common scenarios where accurate working day calculations matter—from employment notice periods to delivery estimates.

What Counts as a Working Day?

UK Bank Holidays 2025

*Scotland and Northern Ireland have different bank holidays

Quick Reference

Common Uses

• Employment notices: Resignation periods
• Legal deadlines: Court filing requirements
• Delivery estimates: "5-7 working days"
• Payment terms: "Net 30 business days"
• Project planning: Sprint and milestone dates
• Bank transactions: Clearing times

Working Days per Month (Average)

Working Days 2025 (Full Year)

Total 2025: 252 working days (England & Wales)

Scotland & Northern Ireland Differences

Employment Notice Periods

Notice periods are often specified in weeks or months, not working days:

Note: Your contract may specify longer notice periods. Contractual terms take precedence over statutory minimums.

Bank Processing Times

UK Bank Holidays 2025 and 2026

Bank holidays in England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland differ slightly. When calculating working days, it is essential to use the correct holiday list for your specific nation. Here are the confirmed bank holidays for 2025 and 2026:

England and Wales Bank Holidays 2025

New Year's Day: Wednesday 1 January. Good Friday: Friday 18 April. Easter Monday: Monday 21 April. Early May bank holiday: Monday 5 May. Spring bank holiday: Monday 26 May. Summer bank holiday: Monday 25 August. Christmas Day: Thursday 25 December. Boxing Day: Friday 26 December. This gives a total of 8 bank holidays in 2025 for England and Wales.

England and Wales Bank Holidays 2026

New Year's Day: Thursday 1 January. Good Friday: Friday 3 April. Easter Monday: Monday 6 April. Early May bank holiday: Monday 4 May. Spring bank holiday: Monday 25 May. Summer bank holiday: Monday 31 August. Christmas Day: Friday 25 December. Boxing Day: Monday 28 December (substitute day for Saturday 26 December). This gives a total of 8 bank holidays in 2026.

Additional Scottish Bank Holidays

Scotland shares most bank holidays with England and Wales but has two key differences. Scotland observes 2 January as a bank holiday (in addition to New Year's Day) and does not observe Easter Monday. Scotland also has St Andrew's Day on 30 November, though employers may substitute this for another day. These differences mean Scotland typically has 9 bank holidays per year.

Additional Northern Ireland Bank Holidays

Northern Ireland observes all the English and Welsh bank holidays plus two additional days: St Patrick's Day on 17 March and the Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen's Day) on 12 July. This gives Northern Ireland 10 bank holidays per year, the most of any UK nation.

Calculating Business Days for Common Purposes

Working day calculations are required for numerous practical purposes across the UK. Understanding the specific rules for each scenario ensures accuracy.

Employment notice periods: Under UK employment law, statutory notice periods are calculated in weeks, not working days. However, many employment contracts specify notice in working days or calendar days. A "working day" in this context typically means Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays, unless the contract defines it otherwise. The minimum statutory notice period is one week for employees with one month to two years of service, increasing by one week per year of service up to a maximum of 12 weeks.

Delivery estimates: When UK retailers and couriers quote delivery times in "working days" or "business days," this always excludes weekends (Saturday and Sunday) and bank holidays. A delivery quoted as "3-5 working days" from a Friday would not arrive until the following Wednesday to Friday at the earliest. Royal Mail defines working days as Monday to Saturday for some services, so check the specific carrier's definition.

Legal deadlines: Court and legal proceedings frequently use working days for filing deadlines. The Civil Procedure Rules define "business days" as any day except Saturday, Sunday, a bank holiday, Christmas Day, or Good Friday. Missing a court deadline by even one day can have serious consequences, so accurate calculation is critical.

HMRC Working Day Rules

HM Revenue and Customs uses working days for several important tax-related deadlines and calculations. Understanding these rules is essential for avoiding penalties.

PAYE filing: Employers must submit Full Payment Submissions (FPS) to HMRC on or before each payday. If payday falls on a non-working day, the submission is due on the last working day before. Late filing can result in penalties starting at £100 per month for small employers.

Self Assessment: While the main Self Assessment deadline of 31 January is a calendar date (not a working day), if this falls on a weekend or bank holiday, the deadline moves to the next working day. For the 2024/25 tax year, the online Self Assessment deadline of 31 January 2026 falls on a Saturday, meaning the effective deadline is Monday 2 February 2026.

VAT returns: VAT returns and payments are due one calendar month and 7 days after the end of the VAT period. If you pay by direct debit, HMRC collects the payment 3 working days after the deadline. Ensuring you have funds available on the correct working day prevents failed payments and potential surcharges.

Corporation Tax: Payment is due 9 months and 1 day after the end of the accounting period. If this falls on a non-business day, payment must reach HMRC by the last business day before the deadline. Electronic payments (Faster Payments, CHAPS, or online banking) typically arrive on the same or next working day, while BACS transfers take 3 working days.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many working days are there in a UK year?

A standard UK year has approximately 252 working days (for England and Wales), calculated as 365 days minus 104 weekend days minus 8 bank holidays, though the exact number varies slightly from year to year depending on how weekends and bank holidays fall. In 2025, England and Wales have 252 working days. Scotland has 251 (with its additional 2 January holiday) and Northern Ireland has 250 (with its two extra bank holidays). Leap years add one extra day, which may or may not be a working day.

Is Saturday a working day in the UK?

For most purposes, Saturday is not considered a working day in the UK. Business day calculations for employment, legal, financial, and HMRC purposes typically define working days as Monday to Friday only. However, some industries (retail, hospitality, healthcare) operate on Saturdays as standard, and individual employment contracts may include Saturday as a normal working day. Royal Mail considers Saturday a working day for some delivery services but not others.

Do bank holidays carry over if they fall on a weekend?

Yes. When a bank holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, a substitute weekday is designated as the bank holiday instead. If Christmas Day falls on a Saturday, the following Monday is the bank holiday. If Boxing Day also falls on a Sunday, Tuesday becomes the substitute. This system ensures that employees entitled to bank holidays always receive the correct number of days off from their Monday-to-Friday working pattern.

Working Days and UK Employment Law

Understanding working days is deeply embedded in UK employment legislation and business practice. Under the Working Time Regulations 1998, which implement the EU Working Time Directive into UK law, most workers are entitled to 5.6 weeks of paid annual leave per year. For a full-time employee working five days per week, this equates to 28 days including bank holidays, though employers can choose whether bank holidays count towards this entitlement or are given in addition to it.

The concept of working days also plays a critical role in UK redundancy procedures. Employers must provide a minimum consultation period of 30 days when proposing to make 20 to 99 employees redundant, or 45 days for 100 or more employees. These are calendar days, not working days, but the distinction frequently causes confusion. Similarly, unfair dismissal claims must be filed with an employment tribunal within three months less one day of the effective date of termination, calculated in calendar days.

For payroll purposes, many UK employers use working days to calculate daily rates of pay. The standard method divides the annual salary by 260 (the approximate number of working days in a year) to arrive at a daily rate. Some organisations use 252 to account for bank holidays, while others use the exact number of working days in the specific tax year. HMRC accepts either method provided it is applied consistently. Part-time workers have their entitlements calculated on a pro-rata basis, and the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) provides detailed guidance on calculating holiday entitlement for workers with irregular hours.

Practical Tips for Working Day Calculations

• Always verify which nation's bank holidays apply. England and Wales share the same eight bank holidays, but Scotland has nine and Northern Ireland has ten. Using the wrong holiday list can throw off your calculations by one or two days, which matters for legal deadlines and contract terms.
• Check whether your contract uses calendar days or working days. Notice periods, probation periods, and delivery terms can use either definition. A "30-day" notice period in calendar days is approximately 22 working days, so misinterpreting the term could cost you a full week.
• Use the gov.uk bank holiday page as your definitive source. The UK government publishes confirmed bank holiday dates at gov.uk/bank-holidays, including substitute days when a holiday falls on a weekend. Bookmark this page for quick reference throughout the year.
• Factor in company shutdown days. Many UK employers close between Christmas and New Year, which are not official bank holidays but are treated as mandatory leave days. Include these when planning project timelines that span December and January.

Additional Frequently Asked Questions

James Mitchell, ACCA

Chartered Accountant & Former HMRC Advisor

James is a Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA) specialising in UK personal taxation and financial planning. With over 12 years in practice and a background as a former HMRC compliance officer, he brings authoritative insight to complex tax topics.