Pay period calculator
Pick your pay schedule and the first day of a period, and the calculator lists the start, end and pay date of every period for the next twelve months. It also shows how many paychecks a year you get and the standard hours in each one, which is where biweekly and semi-monthly schedules differ in ways that matter for overtime.
| # | Period start | Period end | Pay date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thu, Oct 22, 2026 | Wed, Nov 4, 2026 | Mon, Nov 9, 2026 |
| 2 | Thu, Nov 5, 2026 | Wed, Nov 18, 2026 | Mon, Nov 23, 2026 |
| 3 | Thu, Nov 19, 2026 | Wed, Dec 2, 2026 | Mon, Dec 7, 2026 |
| 4 | Thu, Dec 3, 2026 | Wed, Dec 16, 2026 | Mon, Dec 21, 2026 |
| 5 | Thu, Dec 17, 2026 | Wed, Dec 30, 2026 | Mon, Jan 4, 2027 |
| 6 | Thu, Dec 31, 2026 | Wed, Jan 13, 2027 | Mon, Jan 18, 2027 |
| 7 | Thu, Jan 14, 2027 | Wed, Jan 27, 2027 | Mon, Feb 1, 2027 |
| 8 | Thu, Jan 28, 2027 | Wed, Feb 10, 2027 | Mon, Feb 15, 2027 |
| 9 | Thu, Feb 11, 2027 | Wed, Feb 24, 2027 | Mon, Mar 1, 2027 |
| 10 | Thu, Feb 25, 2027 | Wed, Mar 10, 2027 | Mon, Mar 15, 2027 |
| 11 | Thu, Mar 11, 2027 | Wed, Mar 24, 2027 | Mon, Mar 29, 2027 |
| 12 | Thu, Mar 25, 2027 | Wed, Apr 7, 2027 | Mon, Apr 12, 2027 |
| 13 | Thu, Apr 8, 2027 | Wed, Apr 21, 2027 | Mon, Apr 26, 2027 |
| 14 | Thu, Apr 22, 2027 | Wed, May 5, 2027 | Mon, May 10, 2027 |
| 15 | Thu, May 6, 2027 | Wed, May 19, 2027 | Mon, May 24, 2027 |
| 16 | Thu, May 20, 2027 | Wed, Jun 2, 2027 | Mon, Jun 7, 2027 |
| 17 | Thu, Jun 3, 2027 | Wed, Jun 16, 2027 | Mon, Jun 21, 2027 |
| 18 | Thu, Jun 17, 2027 | Wed, Jun 30, 2027 | Mon, Jul 5, 2027 |
| 19 | Thu, Jul 1, 2027 | Wed, Jul 14, 2027 | Mon, Jul 19, 2027 |
| 20 | Thu, Jul 15, 2027 | Wed, Jul 28, 2027 | Mon, Aug 2, 2027 |
| 21 | Thu, Jul 29, 2027 | Wed, Aug 11, 2027 | Mon, Aug 16, 2027 |
| 22 | Thu, Aug 12, 2027 | Wed, Aug 25, 2027 | Mon, Aug 30, 2027 |
| 23 | Thu, Aug 26, 2027 | Wed, Sep 8, 2027 | Mon, Sep 13, 2027 |
| 24 | Thu, Sep 9, 2027 | Wed, Sep 22, 2027 | Mon, Sep 27, 2027 |
| 25 | Thu, Sep 23, 2027 | Wed, Oct 6, 2027 | Mon, Oct 11, 2027 |
| 26 | Thu, Oct 7, 2027 | Wed, Oct 20, 2027 | Mon, Oct 25, 2027 |
Pay dates that fall on a weekend or holiday are usually moved earlier by the employer. Check your pay policy.
How to use this calculator
- Choose your pay schedule. If you are paid every other Friday, that is biweekly; if you are paid on the 15th and the last day of the month, that is semi-monthly.
- Enter the first day of a pay period. For semi-monthly or monthly, any date in the period works.
- Enter how many days after the period ends you are paid. Many employers pay the Friday after the period closes, about 5 days.
- Read the table. The highlighted row is your next pay date. Pay dates on weekends or holidays are usually moved earlier.
Biweekly versus semi-monthly
Biweekly means every two weeks: 26 paychecks a year, each covering 80 standard hours. Semi-monthly means twice a month, usually the 15th and the last day: 24 paychecks a year, each covering 86.67 standard hours (2,080 hours ÷ 24). The semi-monthly check is larger because there are fewer of them, not because you earned more.
Two months a year, a biweekly schedule has three paydays instead of two. Every eleven years or so, a biweekly year has 27 paydays rather than 26. Semi-monthly periods vary in length from 13 to 16 days, so hourly workers see different hours on each check.
Overtime is per workweek, not per pay period
Federal overtime is owed for hours over 40 in a fixed, recurring workweek of seven consecutive days (29 CFR 778.105). The pay period does not change that. On a semi-monthly schedule a workweek can be split across two checks, and overtime from that week must still be paid even if neither half of the period shows more than 40 hours on its own. Averaging two weeks, 45 and 35 for instance, to avoid overtime is not allowed.
How often you must be paid
The Fair Labor Standards Act sets no pay frequency; it requires that wages be paid on the regular payday for the period. Most states set a minimum frequency, commonly at least semi-monthly, and some require weekly or biweekly pay for certain jobs. Your state labor department publishes the rule.
Frequently asked questions
How many pay periods are in a year?
Weekly 52, biweekly 26, semi-monthly 24, monthly 12. A biweekly schedule occasionally has 27 paydays in a calendar year, depending on which day of the week the year starts.
How many hours are in a semi-monthly pay period?
86.67 standard hours, which is 2,080 hours a year divided by 24. The actual days in the period range from 13 to 16, so an hourly worker's hours vary from check to check.
What is the difference between biweekly and semi-monthly pay?
Biweekly is every two weeks on the same weekday, 26 times a year. Semi-monthly is twice a month on fixed dates, 24 times a year. Biweekly periods are always 14 days; semi-monthly periods vary in length.
Is overtime calculated on the pay period?
No. Overtime is calculated per workweek, hours over 40 in seven consecutive days (29 CFR 778.105). A biweekly check contains two separate workweeks, and a semi-monthly check can contain a partial one.
Why is my pay date different from the period end?
Employers need time to process hours, so pay is typically issued several days after the period closes. The offset you enter here reproduces that gap. Weekend and holiday pay dates are commonly moved to the previous business day.
Which months have three paychecks?
On a biweekly schedule, two months a year contain three paydays. Which months depends on your first pay date; the table shows them for your schedule.
Does the calculator save my schedule?
Yes, on this device. Come back any time to see your next pay date.
Related calculators
This calculator produces estimates for your own records. It is not payroll, tax or legal advice. Overtime rules vary by state, industry and employer policy. Sources: U.S. Department of Labor, 29 CFR Parts 516, 778 and 785; state labor codes named above.