How to count days between dates
- Pick a start date and an end date (use “Set to today” for a quick start).
- The total number of days appears instantly, along with weeks and a years/months/days breakdown.
- Tick working days only to exclude weekends — handy for deadlines and notice periods.
How the calculation works
The number of days is simply the later date minus the earlier date, measured in whole calendar days. Because it counts real dates, leap days are automatically included. The result counts the end date but not the start date, which is the usual convention — from one Monday to the next is 7 days.
weeks = days ÷ 7
Working days are counted by stepping through each date and keeping only Monday to Friday. Public holidays aren’t removed because they differ from country to country.
Worked examples
1 January 2026 to 1 February 2026
January has 31 days, so the difference is 31 days = 4 weeks and 3 days, or 1 month exactly.
Working days in a two-week project
From Monday to the Friday two weeks later is 18 calendar days but only 10 working days.
Common reasons to count days between dates
Working out the exact gap between two dates is surprisingly common, and it’s easy to miscount by hand because months have different lengths. People use this calculator to:
- Count down to a wedding, holiday, exam, product launch or birthday.
- Track notice and contract periods — a 30-day notice, a 90-day probation, a payment due in 45 days.
- Measure how long ago something happened, such as days since a start date or an anniversary.
- Plan projects using working days only, excluding weekends.
- Check age or duration in days for forms, visas or milestones.
For counting your own age specifically, the age calculator also gives total days lived; for a due-date countdown, see the due date calculator.
Inclusive vs exclusive counting
There are two ways to count a range of dates, and the difference trips people up. Exclusive counting (the default here) counts the end date but not the start — from the 1st to the 8th is 7 days. Inclusive counting includes both ends, giving 8 days, and is often used for hotel stays, hospital days or “how many days am I away”. If you need the inclusive figure, simply add one to the result.
Frequently asked questions
Set the start date to today and the end date to the date you’re counting down to. The “days” figure is how many remain.
No. Only Saturdays and Sundays are removed. Holidays vary by country and region, so subtract any that apply to you.
Yes. If your end date is before your start date the calculator still shows the gap and notes that the end date is earlier.
Yes. Real calendar dates are counted, so 29 February in leap years is automatically included.