How Many Weekdays In A Month?

Weekdays, often defined as Monday through Friday, typically make up a significant portion of our time. The exact number of weekdays within a month can vary depending on the month and whether or not the year is a leap year. So, how many weekdays in a month, and how to calculate them? Join us as we dive deep into this topic in today’s blog post.

The Basics: What Are Weekdays? 

First, let’s define what we mean by weekdays. Simply put, weekdays typically are the days from Monday to Friday, the standard workdays for most people (which total five days per week). The other two days, Saturday and Sunday, are considered the weekend. So, typically, a week has 5 weekdays and 2 weekend days.

Here, let’s talk a bit about how different it is between a workweek or working week, and a calendar week. While a standard workweek generally has 5 days, from Monday to Friday, a calendar week consists of all seven days from Sunday to Saturday. In other words, a workweek focuses on the standard business days, excluding weekends, while a calendar week includes every day of the week.

Similarly, a working month includes only the days employees are scheduled to work, whereas a calendar month covers all days from the first to the last. Months typically have 30 or 31 days, except for February, which has 28 or 29 days.

Average Number of Weekdays in a Month

On average, there are about 21 to 22 weekdays in a month. This number can vary slightly depending on the number of days in specific months and how the calendar aligns. Of course, the starting day of the month and whether public holidays fall on weekdays can slightly influence the actual working days.

For example, February in a non-leap year has exactly 20 weekdays, while months with 30 or 31 days can have up to 23 weekdays if the first day of the month falls on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday.

How to Calculate Weekdays in Any Given Month

The calculation of how many weekdays in a month varies based on the particular month and the year.

Months with either 30 or 31 days

To calculate the number of weekdays in 30- or 31-day months, you need to determine how many full weeks are in the month and how the remaining days align with the weekdays.

30-Day Month (April, June, September, and November)

A 30-day month consists of 4 full weeks (28 days including weekends or 20 working days) plus 2 additional days. If those extra days are weekdays, you could have up to 22 weekdays.

In short, the total weekdays of a 30-day month are between 20 and 22 (depending on which days the extra 2 days fall). If the month includes any public holidays, be sure to deduct them from the total count of weekdays to determine the available working days.

31-Day Month (January, March, May, July, August, October, and December)

A 31-day month includes 4 full weeks (28 days including weekends or 20 working days) but with 3 additional days. These extra days will also add at least one weekday. Note that if the first day of the month falls on Monday or Tuesday, for example, you will have 3 more weekdays, pushing the total count to 23.

In brief, the weekdays of a 31-day month are between 21 and 23 (depending on which days the extra 2 days fall). If there are any public holidays in the month, you'll need to subtract them from this total number of weekdays to find the working days in the month.

For example: To determine how many working days in December 2023, subtract weekends and public holidays from the month's total days:

• 31 days - 10 weekend days - 1 public holiday = 20 working days

Thus, December 2023 has 20 working days.

What about February?

February in both regular and leap years is unique due to its variable length.

• In any non-leap year, February encompasses 28 days (4 full weeks), leading to 20 weekdays.
• In a leap year, February has 29 days, which can increase the weekdays to 21, depending on which day February 29 falls.

Note: Remember to deduct any public holidays from the total weekdays in the month to determine the month’s working days.

Factors That Can Influence Weekday Count

Several factors can influence the exact number of weekdays and working days in a month:

• The Day the Month Starts: The specific weekday a month begins will affect how the extra days at the end of the month align with weekdays and weekends. For example, if a 30-day month starts on a Wednesday, the month will end with a Thursday and Friday, giving you two extra weekdays.
• Leap Years: As mentioned earlier, leap years add an extra day to February, which can increase the number of weekdays if that extra day is a weekday.
• Work Schedules: Some businesses may operate on a different schedule. For instance, if a company observes a four-day workweek, the number of weekdays may differ from the standard five-day model.
• Public Holidays: Public holidays can reduce the number of workdays. For example, if a holiday falls on a Monday, like Labor Day, that week will only have four weekdays available for work (instead of five).

These factors, of course, make counting how many weekdays and workdays in a month is not as easy and simple as it sounds. To easily determine the total monthly workdays, you can use free time calculators, like business day calculators, workday calculators, calendars, etc.

FAQs

How long is 10 business days?

Ten business days typically refer to a two-week period, excluding weekends. Business days are Monday through Friday, so 10 business days would usually span over 14 calendar days, assuming there are no public holidays.

For example, if you start counting on a Monday, the 10th business day would generally fall on the second Friday after that. If a holiday falls within the time frame, you may need to account for additional time.

Do the number of weekdays in a month vary?

Yes, the number of how many weekdays in a month can vary depending on the length of the month, how the days of the week fall on the calendar, and other factors. For example, a 31-day month without public holidays could have 22 or 23 weekdays, depending on its start date.

How many work hours are in a month?

The number of work hours within a month depends on the number of weekdays and the length of the standard workday. Consider a typical 40-hour full-time workday, the average month contains between 160 and 184 work hours. Months with 20 weekdays have 160 work hours (20 days x 8 hours), while months with 23 weekdays can have up to 184 work hours. Public holidays and shorter work days can decrease the number of work hours in a given month.

In summary, knowing how many weekdays in a month can be a valuable tool for planning everything from work schedules to vacations. Whether you're managing your time at work or simply organizing your personal life, having a clear understanding of how weekdays are distributed can help you make the most of your time. Remember, factors like leap years, holidays, the specific day on which a month begins, and more can all influence the exact number of weekdays and your actual working days.