A year has 52 work weeks. However, this number can be reduced based on holidays and other factors such as paid time off one employee might benefit to about 48 work weeks.
To calculate working weeks, you must determine the number of weeks within a specific timeframe and exclude non-working days, such as weekends or holidays. Divide the total number of working days by the number of working days in a week (usually 5 for a typical Monday to Friday workweek) to find the number of working weeks.
For example, let's calculate the number of working weeks in a year for an employee who :
Here are the calculations:
Learn more: How many weeks are in a year?
A standard workweek is typically considered to be 40 hours spread across 5 working days (Monday to Friday).
On average, a full-time US employee worked for 8.42 hours every day in 2022, according to BLS, American Time Use Survey (ATUS).
Calculating work weeks can be important for various reasons, including:
The number of working weeks in a year, excluding holidays, depends on the specific country and its holiday calendar. Generally, if we assume a standard 52-week year and exclude holidays, you can expect around 48 to 50 working weeks.
For example, in the US, if you subtract 11 Federal Holidays, or 11 days/5 working days per week = 2.2 work weeks from the total number of weekdays, you will have
52 weeks—2.2 weeks of holidays = 49.8 working weeks per year.
There are eleven federal holidays every year. When making long-term plans, remember that the holiday dates vary annually. Note that some states might have variations on these holidays, and some employers might not follow them.
| No | Federal holiday | Date |
| 1 | New Year's Day | January 1 |
| 2 | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | Third Monday in January |
| 3 | George Washington’s Birthday | Third Monday in February |
| 4 | Memorial Day | Last Monday in May |
| 5 | Juneteenth | June 19 |
| 6 | Independence Day | July 4 |
| 7 | Labor Day | First Monday in September |
| 8 | Columbus Day | Second Monday in October |
| 9 | Veterans Day | November 11 |
| 10 | Thanksgiving Day | 4th Thursday in November |
| 11 | Christmas Day | December 25 |
The number of work weeks per month can vary based on the specific month and the number of working days within it. On average, a month can have around 4 to 5 work weeks, assuming a standard Monday to Friday workweek.
Related: How many weeks per month?
The number of working days in a month can vary depending on weekends, holidays, and regional variations. On average, a month can have around 20 to 23 working days, assuming a standard Monday to Friday workweek and excluding holidays.
Learn more about working days.
In general, months with 31 days have the most workdays because they have the highest number of total days. However, the exact number of workdays can vary depending on weekends and holidays within a specific month.
The months with 31 days are the following: January, March, May, July, August, October, and December.
No, different countries can have different numbers of workweeks due to variations in holidays, labor laws, and cultural practices. Here are examples for some countries:
No, working weeks can vary across industries based on factors such as labor agreements, regulations, and the nature of the work. Here are three examples:
The number of hours employees work during a typical day and week can vary based on industry, country, and employment agreements. In many countries, a standard workweek is around 35 to 40 hours, spread across five days. This translates to approximately 7 to 8 hours per day. However, it's important to note that there can be variations, and some industries or specific job roles may have different working hour requirements.
Although each person's schedule may be different, especially for those who work overtime or extra hours, the average number of work hours for a full-time employee working eight hours a day, five days per week, is anticipated to be 2,008 in 2024, without deducting PTO and holidays.
Find monthly calculations of working hours.
There usually are 20 to 22 work days in a month, not including Saturdays and Sundays.
The number of workweeks in a month depends on its length and the number of working days. An average month has around 4 to 5 work weeks, assuming a standard Monday to Friday workweek.
Find a complete breakdown of the number of weeks monthly.
If you're looking for a calendar that you can reference whenever needed to mark important dates, annotate accordingly, review holidays, or help plan your PTO, check out our free printable calendar for 2024.
The 40-hour workweek in the United States has historical roots in labor movements and workers' rights advocacy. In the early 20th century, labor unions and activists campaigned for shorter work hours to improve working conditions and provide more leisure time for workers. As a piece of history, in 1938, the Fair Labor Standards Act established the 40-hour workweek standard for non-exempt workers and introduced overtime pay for hours worked beyond 40 hours a week. The aim was to create a better work-life balance, protect workers' rights, and promote economic stability. The 40-hour workweek has since become a widely accepted standard in many industries nationwide.