Working days calculator: any two dates
Enter two dates and the tool deducts weekends, public holidays and your own leave, from 2025 to 2028: notice period, assignment planning, days left before a deadline, the denominator behind a day rate. For the full-year reference and the month-by-month table, see our 2026 working days page: 252 business days, 303 workable days, 11 public holidays of which 9 fall on weekdays.
252 business days in France in 2026 (Monday to Friday, holidays deducted)
227 days actually worked for a full-time employee after 25 days of paid leave
11 legal public holidays, 9 of which fall on weekdays in 2026
Business, workable and calendar days: French definitions
French payroll and employment law distinguish three neighbouring notions. The calculator separates them, and the table below gives the month-by-month detail.
Business days (jours ouvrés)
Monday to Friday, public holidays deducted. The reference for schedules, most collective agreements and bank processing times.
- 252 business days in 2026, against 251 in 2025 and 254 in 2027.
- May 2026 is the shortest month: 17 business days, 4 weekday holidays.
- Six months reach 22 business days: March, June, July, September, October, December.
Workable days (jours ouvrables)
Monday to Saturday, holidays deducted. The legal reference for paid leave accrual: 2.5 workable days per month, 30 per year.
- 303 workable days in 2026.
- Saturdays count towards leave even when not worked.
- A holiday falling on a Saturday (15 August 2026) reduces workable days only.
Days actually worked
Business days minus leave and absences. The figure that matters for day-rate pricing, forfait jours contracts and accrual computations.
- 227 days for a full-time employee with 25 days of paid leave.
- The forfait jours ceiling is 218 days, solidarity day included.
- For a freelance, 210 to 220 days of effective work, of which 150 to 170 are genuinely billable.
Business days 2026, month by month
Official 2026 French calendar, weekday holidays deducted.
- January 2026: 21 business days, 1 weekday holiday (Thursday 1 January).
- February 2026: 20 business days, no holiday.
- March 2026: 22 business days, no holiday.
- April 2026: 21 business days, 1 holiday (Easter Monday, 6 April).
- May 2026: 17 business days, 4 weekday holidays (1, 8, 14 and 25 May).
- June 2026: 22 business days, no holiday.
- July 2026: 22 business days, 1 holiday (Tuesday 14 July).
- August 2026: 21 business days, 15 August falls on a Saturday.
- September 2026: 22 business days, no holiday.
- October 2026: 22 business days, no holiday.
- November 2026: 20 business days, 1 weekday holiday (Wednesday 11 November).
- December 2026: 22 business days, 1 holiday (Friday 25 December).
The firm’s reading
The business-day count drives French payroll (salary maintenance, absence valuation), freelance pricing (a day rate should rest on realistic billable days, not 252) and some year-end accruals. May 2026 and its 17 business days squeeze the cash flow of time-billing businesses: build that dip into your forecast.
Frequently asked questions
How many working days are there in France in 2026?
252 business days. The year has 365 days, minus 104 Saturdays and Sundays and 9 public holidays falling on weekdays.
How many days do French employees actually work in 2026?
227 days for a standard full-time contract: 252 business days minus 25 days of statutory paid leave. RTT days and company agreements adjust this figure.
What are the French public holidays in 2026?
Eleven legal holidays: 1 January, Easter Monday (6 April), 1 May, 8 May, Ascension (14 May), Whit Monday (25 May), 14 July, 15 August, 1 November, 11 November and 25 December. Nine fall on weekdays in 2026.
How many RTT days in France in 2026?
RTT days are not statutory: they depend on your company agreement. A common forfait jours setup at 218 worked days yields around 9 RTT days in 2026 (227 potential working days minus 218).
Is the working-day count different in Alsace-Moselle?
Yes, but only by one day in 2026. Alsace-Moselle adds Good Friday (Friday 3 April 2026) and Saint Stephen’s Day (Saturday 26 December 2026). Only Good Friday falls on a weekday, so the local count is 251 business days and 301 workable days. Overseas territories also add specific commemorative holidays.
Official sources
Calendar verified for 2025 to 2028, mainland French regime. Updated July 2026.
Related resources
A payroll or leave-count question?
Leave accounting, public-holiday pay, forfait jours contracts: the firm answers in English within 24 to 48 hours.