How to use it
- Type the First pay date, a date you are paid on.
- Choose how often you are Paid. For twice a month, set the Second pay day of the month.
- Set the Number of pay dates to list, then read the Pay dates table and add the dates to your calendar.
How the dates are counted
Weekly and every-two-weeks schedules add 7 or 14 days to the previous date, so the list never skips a week. Monthly schedules keep the day of the month of the first pay date. Twice-a-month schedules pay on two days each month: the day of the first pay date and the second pay day you choose. The list starts on the first pay date and runs forward.
Weekly: each date = previous date + 7 days
Every two weeks: each date = previous date + 14 days
Monthly: the same day each month (the day of the first pay date)
Twice a month: each month, the day of the first pay date and the second pay day
A day the month does not have is paid on the last day of that monthWhy the calendar matters
Pay dates can fall on a weekend or a public holiday, and employers deal with that in different ways: some pay on the day before, others on the next working day. This tool counts calendar days and does not move a date for a weekend or a holiday.
What this calculator does not include
- Moves of a pay date for weekends or public holidays.
- Shorter pay periods for someone who starts or leaves in the middle of a period.
- The time a payslip covers. A pay period and a pay date are different: the pay date usually comes after the period it pays for.
Worked example: every two weeks from November 13, 2026
The first six of the twelve pay dates are shown. Each date is 14 days after the one before, so twelve pay dates run to April 16, 2027.
Twice a month, from November 15, 2026, with the second pay day set to 31, pays on November 15, November 30, December 15 and December 31. The 31st becomes the last day of each shorter month.
| No. | Pay date |
|---|---|
| 1 | November 13, 2026 |
| 2 | November 27, 2026 |
| 3 | December 11, 2026 |
| 4 | December 25, 2026 |
| 5 | January 8, 2027 |
| 6 | January 22, 2027 |
Frequently asked questions
How many pay dates will I have in a year?
Monthly schedules have 12, twice-a-month schedules 24, every-two-weeks schedules 26 and weekly schedules 52. A year is not an exact number of weeks, so a weekly or biweekly schedule can have one more date in some years.
What is the difference between a pay period and a pay date?
A pay period is the span of work that a payslip covers, and the pay date is the day the money is paid, which usually comes after the period ends. This tool lists pay dates.
What happens if a pay date falls on a weekend or a holiday?
The calculator does not move dates for weekends or holidays. Your employer and your country's rules decide whether payment comes earlier or later, so check the payroll calendar your employer uses.
Why does the second pay day of the month matter?
For a twice-a-month schedule the list pays on the day of the first pay date and on the second day you choose, each month. Set 31 for the last day of the month, so February and the other short months pay on their last day.
Can I list the pay dates for a whole year?
Yes. Set the number of pay dates to what you need: for a year, 26 for every two weeks, 24 for twice a month, 12 for monthly or 52 for weekly.
Sources
Figures and text last checked on Thursday, November 12, 2026.