PAY · FREE
Pay Period Calendar
See every payday this year, how many paychecks you get, and which months have an extra one. Weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly or monthly.
PAYCHECKS THIS YEAR
EVERY PAYDAY
Know which bills each paycheck covers.
Billday is a private bill organizer for iPhone. Add your paydays once, and every bill lands under the paycheck that pays it, with what's left after each one. No bank login, no account.
How many paychecks do you get in a year?
It depends on how often you are paid. Weekly pay gives 52 paychecks, biweekly gives 26, semi-monthly gives 24, and monthly gives 12. Weekly and biweekly years can add one more payday, so a biweekly employee gets 27 paychecks in a year where the first payday falls on January 1 (or January 1 or 2 in a leap year).
Biweekly vs. semi-monthly pay
Biweekly pay lands on the same weekday every two weeks, so your paychecks are slightly smaller (26 per year) but evenly spaced. Semi-monthly pay lands on fixed dates, usually the 15th and the last day, so you get 24 larger paychecks and the weekday moves around. Annual pay is the same either way.
The three-paycheck months
If you are paid every two weeks, two months a year contain three paydays. Many people budget with those months as a bonus: put the extra paycheck toward savings, a big bill, or debt instead of everyday spending. The calendar above highlights them for your exact schedule.
Pay periods and pay dates
A pay period is the stretch of work a paycheck covers, and the pay date is when the money arrives, often several days after the period ends. This calendar shows pay dates. To find a period, subtract the lag your employer uses (check your pay stub for the period end date).
Frequently asked questions
How many paychecks are in a year?
Weekly pay is 52 paychecks (53 in some years), biweekly is 26 (sometimes 27), semi-monthly is 24, and monthly is 12. Biweekly and weekly years can have one extra payday because 365 days is not a clean multiple of 14 or 7.
What is the difference between biweekly and semi-monthly pay?
Biweekly means every two weeks, so you are always paid on the same weekday and get 26 paychecks. Semi-monthly means twice a month on fixed dates such as the 15th and the last day, so you get 24 paychecks and the weekday changes.
Why do I sometimes get three paychecks in a month?
With biweekly pay, two months a year usually fit three paydays because 26 paychecks across 12 months leaves two extra. Weekly pay has four or five paydays per month. Semi-monthly and monthly pay never do. Use the calendar above to see your exact months.
What happens when payday falls on a weekend?
Most employers pay on the Friday before. Tick the weekend option and the calendar moves those paydays to Friday. Check your own payroll policy, since a few employers pay on the next business day instead.
How do I find my pay schedule?
Look at two recent pay stubs and use the pay date of one of them as your starting payday. For biweekly or weekly pay, any past or future payday works. Semi-monthly and monthly pay only need the pay days you were told.
Does this calculator account for bank holidays?
No. It handles weekends only. When a holiday falls on a payday, employers and banks often pay a day early, so check your pay stub for the exact date.
Are my dates saved?
No. Everything is calculated in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or stored.