How Many Work Days Are in a Year?
Around 250 after holidays, from a base of 260 to 262 weekdays. See the calculation, why your country's answer differs, and how to check your own year.
A year has 260 to 262 weekdays, and once public holidays come out, most full-time schedules land near 250 work days. The exact figure depends on where you are and who you work for.
Step One: Count the Weekdays
Fifty-two weeks give 260 weekdays. Leftover days beyond those 52 weeks add one or two more if they fall Monday to Friday. 2026 has 261. The full range and the year-by-year table are in [how many weekdays are in a year](/blog/how-many-weekdays-in-a-year).
Step Two: Subtract Public Holidays
This is where the number becomes local.
| Country | Public holidays | Typical work days |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 11 federal | ~250 |
| United Kingdom | 8 bank (England & Wales) | ~253 |
| Germany | 9-13 by state | ~249-253 |
| Japan | 16 national | ~245 |
| India | Varies by state | ~240-250 |
Only holidays landing on a weekday reduce the count. A holiday on a Saturday costs nothing — unless your country moves it to the nearest weekday, which the UK does and the US does for federal holidays.
Step Three: Subtract Your Own Leave
Public holidays are not annual leave. A US employee with 11 federal holidays and 15 days of paid vacation works about 235 days. The same calculation in the UK with 8 bank holidays and 25 days leave gives about 228.
Why Published Figures Disagree
You will see 260, 250, 240 and 228 all described as "work days in a year". They are all correct for different questions:
- 260-262 — weekdays, a pure calendar count
- ~250 — weekdays minus public holidays
- ~230 — the above minus typical annual leave
- ~220 — the above minus average sick days
State which one you mean before quoting it in a contract or a rate calculation.
Getting Your Own Number
The [working days calculator](/tools/working-days) counts weekdays between any two dates and lets you paste your own holiday list, which is the only way to get a figure that matches your actual calendar.