Whether you're signing a contract, waiting for a package, or processing a refund, understanding the difference between a business day and a calendar day is critical to managing expectations.
What is a Business Day?
A business day refers to any day that normal business operations are conducted. In Western countries, this is generally considered to be Monday through Friday, from 9 AM to 5 PM local time. Weekends (Saturday and Sunday) and public holidays are excluded.
What is a Calendar Day?
A calendar day is simply any 24-hour period on the calendar. This includes weekends and holidays. If a contract stipulates "14 calendar days," you simply count 14 days straight forward without skipping any dates.
Need to calculate a deadline?
Determine exactly when your deadline falls by entering a start date and adding the required number of business days.
Open Business Days CalculatorShipping and Deadlines
If a retailer promises "3-day shipping", they almost always mean 3 business days. If you order an item on Thursday, Day 1 is Friday, Day 2 is Monday, and Day 3 is Tuesday. Expecting the package on Sunday (3 calendar days) will leave you disappointed.