Working Days and Hours 2026 - United Kingdom
For United Kingdom in 2026, this Monday-to-Friday planning calendar gives 253 days and 2,024 hours at 8 hours per day, after the included public holidays. It assumes those holidays are not worked and excludes personal leave and company closures.
Sandtime.io editorial team ·
Complete guide to working hours, public holidays, and annual leave in the United Kingdom for 2026
Monthly working days and hours 2026
For United Kingdom in 2026, this Monday-to-Friday planning calendar gives 253 days and 2,024 hours at 8 hours per day, after the included public holidays. It assumes those holidays are not worked and excludes personal leave and company closures.
Monday-Friday; included holidays not worked; daily hours stated in the guide; no personal leave or company closures deducted.
England and Wales bank holidays are used here. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different calendars. Substitute weekdays are included when the official calendar names them. Employers do not automatically have to give paid leave on bank holidays; check the contract.
On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to see every column. With a keyboard, focus the table region and use the arrow keys.
| Month | Planned working days | Working hours | Holidays reducing the total |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | 21 | 168 | 1 |
| February 2026 | 20 | 160 | 0 |
| March 2026 | 22 | 176 | 0 |
| April 2026 | 20 | 160 | 2 |
| May 2026 | 19 | 152 | 2 |
| June 2026 | 22 | 176 | 0 |
| July 2026 | 23 | 184 | 0 |
| August 2026 | 20 | 160 | 1 |
| September 2026 | 22 | 176 | 0 |
| October 2026 | 22 | 176 | 0 |
| November 2026 | 21 | 168 | 0 |
| December 2026 | 21 | 168 | 2 |
| Total | 253 | 2,024 | 8 |
The accessible table contains the same figures.
Working hours in January 2026
In January 2026, the calendar gives 21 working days and 168 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 1 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in February 2026
In February 2026, the calendar gives 20 working days and 160 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 0 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in March 2026
In March 2026, the calendar gives 22 working days and 176 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 0 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in April 2026
In April 2026, the calendar gives 20 working days and 160 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 2 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in May 2026
In May 2026, the calendar gives 19 working days and 152 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 2 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in June 2026
In June 2026, the calendar gives 22 working days and 176 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 0 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in July 2026
In July 2026, the calendar gives 23 working days and 184 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 0 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in August 2026
In August 2026, the calendar gives 20 working days and 160 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 1 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in September 2026
In September 2026, the calendar gives 22 working days and 176 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 0 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in October 2026
In October 2026, the calendar gives 22 working days and 176 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 0 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in November 2026
In November 2026, the calendar gives 21 working days and 168 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 0 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in December 2026
In December 2026, the calendar gives 21 working days and 168 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 2 included holidays on working weekdays.
Plan hours for your working week
The calculator starts with work from Monday to Friday. Choose the days and daily hours that match your schedule. The result shows hours available after holidays; legal working-time limits depend on the rules for your workplace.
Planning weekdays: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday; 8 hours/day. Included holidays are assumed not worked; leave and company closures are not deducted.
2,024 hours
On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to see every column. With a keyboard, focus the table region and use the arrow keys.
| Month | Planned working days | Working hours | Holidays reducing the total |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | 21 | 168 | 1 |
| February 2026 | 20 | 160 | 0 |
| March 2026 | 22 | 176 | 0 |
| April 2026 | 20 | 160 | 2 |
| May 2026 | 19 | 152 | 2 |
| June 2026 | 22 | 176 | 0 |
| July 2026 | 23 | 184 | 0 |
| August 2026 | 20 | 160 | 1 |
| September 2026 | 22 | 176 | 0 |
| October 2026 | 22 | 176 | 0 |
| November 2026 | 21 | 168 | 0 |
| December 2026 | 21 | 168 | 2 |
| Total | 253 | 2,024 | 8 |
England and Wales bank holidays are used here. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different calendars. Substitute weekdays are included when the official calendar names them. Employers do not automatically have to give paid leave on bank holidays; check the contract.
How to read the working-hour totals
England and Wales bank holidays are used here. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different calendars. Substitute weekdays are included when the official calendar names them. Employers do not automatically have to give paid leave on bank holidays; check the contract.
Count the selected working weekdays, subtract the included holidays that fall on those days, then multiply the remaining days by daily hours. Each holiday date is counted once. A holiday on a day you already exclude does not reduce the total again. Legal reductions and official substitute days follow their own rules.
Local working-calendar questions and examples
Does this UK table cover Scotland and Northern Ireland?
The baseline covers England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different bank holidays, so their totals need a separate calendar. For a team spanning several UK jurisdictions, budget each person’s availability locally rather than choosing one UK-wide number and deducting the same days for everyone.
Are bank holidays extra paid leave in every UK contract?
Not automatically. GOV.UK states that employers do not have to grant paid leave on bank holidays. Check the employment contract and how bank holidays are treated within leave arrangements before subtracting them again as personal vacation. A calendar of bank holidays alone does not establish the employee’s remaining leave balance.
Which Christmas substitute days matter in 2027?
For England and Wales, GOV.UK lists Monday December 27 and Tuesday December 28 as the substitute bank holidays for Christmas and Boxing Day. Both are included in the preview. In a Monday-Friday budget, deduct the observed weekdays once, rather than deducting the weekend dates and adding another two days of compensation.
A planning total is not a universal legal annual requirement. Contracts, collective agreements, regions, sectors and actual working schedules can change the result. Record personal leave and company closures separately, and check the country’s working-time rules before using a calendar for payroll.
Working hours 2027: plan the next year
England and Wales bank holidays are used here. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different calendars. Substitute weekdays are included when the official calendar names them. Employers do not automatically have to give paid leave on bank holidays; check the contract.
For United Kingdom in 2027, this Monday-to-Friday planning calendar gives 253 days and 2,024 hours at 8 hours per day, after the included public holidays. It assumes those holidays are not worked and excludes personal leave and company closures.
With the same working days and daily hours, the 2027 preview differs from 2026 by 0 hours. The calendars may cover different holidays; check their scope before using the comparison for a budget.
Confirmed holiday dates in the 2027 preview
- - New Year’s Day
- - Good Friday
- - Easter Monday
- - Early May Bank Holiday
- - Spring Bank Holiday
- - Summer bank holiday
- - Christmas Day
- - Boxing Day (substitute)
On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to see every column. With a keyboard, focus the table region and use the arrow keys.
| Month | Planned working days | Working hours | Holidays reducing the total |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2027 | 20 | 160 | 1 |
| February 2027 | 20 | 160 | 0 |
| March 2027 | 21 | 168 | 2 |
| April 2027 | 22 | 176 | 0 |
| May 2027 | 19 | 152 | 2 |
| June 2027 | 22 | 176 | 0 |
| July 2027 | 22 | 176 | 0 |
| August 2027 | 21 | 168 | 1 |
| September 2027 | 22 | 176 | 0 |
| October 2027 | 21 | 168 | 0 |
| November 2027 | 22 | 176 | 0 |
| December 2027 | 21 | 168 | 2 |
| Total | 253 | 2,024 | 8 |
The accessible table contains the same figures.
Working hours in January 2027
In January 2027, the calendar gives 20 working days and 160 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 1 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in February 2027
In February 2027, the calendar gives 20 working days and 160 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 0 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in March 2027
In March 2027, the calendar gives 21 working days and 168 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 2 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in April 2027
In April 2027, the calendar gives 22 working days and 176 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 0 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in May 2027
In May 2027, the calendar gives 19 working days and 152 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 2 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in June 2027
In June 2027, the calendar gives 22 working days and 176 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 0 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in July 2027
In July 2027, the calendar gives 22 working days and 176 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 0 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in August 2027
In August 2027, the calendar gives 21 working days and 168 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 1 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in September 2027
In September 2027, the calendar gives 22 working days and 176 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 0 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in October 2027
In October 2027, the calendar gives 21 working days and 168 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 0 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in November 2027
In November 2027, the calendar gives 22 working days and 176 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 0 included holidays on working weekdays.
Working hours in December 2027
In December 2027, the calendar gives 21 working days and 168 hours for the selected schedule, after deducting 2 included holidays on working weekdays.
Which months have the most and least working hours in 2026?
The 2026 calendar for United Kingdom has a highest monthly total of 184 hours (July). The lowest is 152 hours (May). The difference is 32 hours per full-time person before leave, absences and company closures.
Compare delivery commitments by available hours, not by the number of months. Two equally priced monthly retainers can require different staffing when one month has fewer working days. Keep the calendar assumptions fixed, then adjust for each person’s schedule and approved leave before promising project capacity.
From October’s hours to a realistic project budget
Illustrative example for October 2026: start with 176 hours, reserve 16 hours for two scheduled days of approved leave and 24 hours for internal work. That leaves 136 hours for project allocation. It is a planning budget, not a promise that every remaining hour is billable or a record of hours actually worked.
Before the month begins, assign capacity to projects. During the month, keep actual project hours separately. At close, compare planned capacity with recorded work and approved absences; explain the differences before preparing client reports. A national calendar cannot replace either the employee’s schedule or the project record.
Understand billable utilization · Plan project staffing with the free capacity template · Use approved timesheets for client billing
2026 versus 2027: compare the hours month by month
An unchanged annual total can hide a different monthly workload. Compare matching months before reusing a staffing or delivery budget for 2027. This table uses the same daily hours and weekday assumptions in both years; regional and employer-specific calendars still need their own adjustments.
On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to see every column. With a keyboard, focus the table region and use the arrow keys.
| Month | 2026 | 2027 | Change in hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 168 | 160 | -8 |
| February | 160 | 160 | 0 |
| March | 176 | 168 | -8 |
| April | 160 | 176 | 16 |
| May | 152 | 152 | 0 |
| June | 176 | 176 | 0 |
| July | 184 | 176 | -8 |
| August | 160 | 168 | 8 |
| September | 176 | 176 | 0 |
| October | 176 | 168 | -8 |
| November | 168 | 176 | 8 |
| December | 168 | 168 | 0 |
| Total | 2,024 | 2,024 | 0 |
See the assumptions and confirmed dates for 2027 · Calculate a different period or working week
Free templates for planning and recording hours
Download editable spreadsheets or printable PDFs without registration. Keep calendar capacity, leave and actual time records separate.
Monthly timesheet
Record actual hours separately from the calendar’s planned total.
Download Excel · Download PDF
Work schedule
Turn monthly capacity into a team schedule and record company days off.
Download Excel · Download PDF
Vacation and leave tracker
Account for personal leave before assigning work to a project.
Download Excel · Download PDF
Time off in lieu tracker
Keep a record of granted compensating leave and its remaining balance.
Download Excel · Download PDFFrom the calendar to reliable time records
A calendar tells you how many hours can be planned. A time record tells you which project used them. Review the actual hours before reporting or billing.
Working Hours and Leave in the United Kingdom 2026
Working week used in calculations
Monday to Friday. Edit working weekdays in the calculator; legal limits and actual schedules are separate.
- 8 hours per day
- 5 days per week
- 40 hours per week
Under the Working Time Regulations 1998, workers may not work more than an average of 48 hours per week, measured over a 17-week reference period. Workers may voluntarily opt out of this limit by written agreement with their employer.
Annual Leave Entitlement
28 days
Most workers receive 5.6 weeks of statutory paid leave, capped at 28 days. Twenty-eight days assumes a five-day week; bank holidays can be included in this entitlement.
Monthly Averages
- 21.1 working days/month
- 168.7 working hours/month
Public Holidays in the United Kingdom 2026
The stated calendar for United Kingdom lists 8 holidays in 2026, with 8 falling on weekdays. See full public holidays list
England and Wales bank holidays are used here. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different calendars. Substitute weekdays are included when the official calendar names them. Employers do not automatically have to give paid leave on bank holidays; check the contract.
Understanding Holiday Types
Different countries use different terminology for non-working days. Here is what each term means for workforce planning.
Public Holidays
Public holidays listed in the country’s calendar. Check the country guide for the rules on time off, holiday pay and regional differences.
Federal Holidays
Holidays listed in a federal calendar. Check which government offices and employers the calendar covers before applying it to a private workplace.
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 (New Year's Day) | |
| Fri, Apr 3 | Friday | Good Friday | |
| Mon, Apr 6 | Monday | Easter Monday | |
| Mon, May 4 | Monday | Early May Bank Holiday | |
| Mon, May 25 | Monday | Spring Bank Holiday | |
| Mon, Aug 31 | Monday | Summer bank holiday | |
| Fri, Dec 25 | Friday | Christmas Day | |
| Mon, Dec 28 | Monday | Boxing Day (substitute) |
Turn working days into tracked hours
Sandtime.io is free for unlimited users. Log hours against projects, approve timesheets, and export reports for invoicing.