Arbeitszeit 2026
Complete guide to working hours, public holidays, and annual leave in Germany for 2026
Standard Work Week
- 8 hours per day
- 5 days per week
- 40 hours per week
Under the Working Hours Act (Arbeitszeitgesetz, § 3), working time may not exceed 8 hours per working day. It may be extended to up to 10 hours if the average over 6 calendar months does not exceed 8 hours per day.
Annual Leave Entitlement
20 - 30 days
Minimum 20 working days by law (based on 5-day week). Many employers offer 25-30 days.
Monthly Averages
- 21.2 working days/month
- 169.3 working hours/month
Monthly Working Hours Goals 2026
Expected working hours per month based on 8-hour workday, excluding weekends and public holidays.
| Month | Working Days | Monthly Goal |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | 21 | 168.00 |
| February 2026 | 20 | 160.00 |
| March 2026 | 22 | 176.00 |
| April 2026 | 20 | 160.00 |
| May 2026 | 18 | 144.00 |
| June 2026 | 22 | 176.00 |
| July 2026 | 23 | 184.00 |
| August 2026 | 21 | 168.00 |
| September 2026 | 22 | 176.00 |
| October 2026 | 22 | 176.00 |
| November 2026 | 21 | 168.00 |
| December 2026 | 22 | 176.00 |
| Total | 254 | 2032.00 |
Public Holidays in Germany 2026
Germany has 9 public holidays in 2026, with 7 falling on weekdays. See full public holidays list
Understanding Holiday Types
Different countries use different terminology for non-working days. Here is what each term means for workforce planning.
Public Holidays
Official days off recognized by a country's government. Most employees are entitled to paid leave, and businesses may close or operate with reduced staff.
Federal Holidays
Holidays established by a national government, primarily affecting government offices and federally-regulated employers. Private companies may choose whether to observe them.
Bank Holidays
Days when banks and financial institutions are closed. In the UK, this term is synonymous with public holidays. Important for payroll processing and payment schedules.
Observances
Notable dates that are not official days off. Examples include Earth Day or Mother's Day. These do not affect work schedules unless an employer chooses to recognize them.
| Date | Day | Holiday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Jan 1 | Thursday | New Year's Day (Neujahr) | |
| Fri, Apr 3 | Friday | Good Friday (Karfreitag) | |
| Mon, Apr 6 | Monday | Easter Monday (Ostermontag) | |
| Fri, May 1 | Friday | Labour Day (Tag der Arbeit) | |
| Thu, May 14 | Thursday | Ascension Day (Christi Himmelfahrt) | |
| Mon, May 25 | Monday | Whit Monday (Pfingstmontag) | |
| Sat, Oct 3 | Saturday | German Unity Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit) | Weekend |
| Fri, Dec 25 | Friday | Christmas Day (Erster Weihnachtstag) | |
| Sat, Dec 26 | Saturday | Second Day of Christmas (Zweiter Weihnachtstag) | Weekend |
Track Your Working Hours with Sandtime.io
Free time tracking for teams. Monitor hours, generate reports, and manage projects effortlessly.