The Days Between Two Dates: Common Mistakes, Tips and FAQs

Introduction

Date maths is easy to get wrong by one day, especially when weekends, bank holidays and inclusive counting are involved.

This article covers the most common mistakes people make with the Days Between Two Dates, what really moves the result, and answers to the questions we hear most often.

Why it matters

Accurate date calculations help you meet legal deadlines, plan leave, and check notice periods or contract terms.

How it's calculated

We subtract the start date from the end date. Working days exclude weekends and England and Wales bank holidays.

What changes the result most

The result depends on the choices you make in the calculator, so it's worth trying several combinations. In a typical example, days between is 358.

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Forgetting to exclude bank holidays from working-day counts.
2. Mixing inclusive and exclusive date ranges.
3. Assuming every month has 30 days.
4. Using England's bank holidays for a Scottish workplace.

A quick example

With the inputs below, days between comes out at 358.

Tips

• Check whether a deadline counts the start day, the end day or both.
• Bank holidays differ between England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
• When a bank holiday falls on a weekend, a substitute day is usually given.
• Statutory holiday entitlement can include bank holidays.

Frequently asked questions

What's the quickest way to work out the Days Between Two Dates?

Use our free days Between Dates Calculator. It applies this method automatically: We subtract the start date from the end date. Working days exclude weekends and England and Wales bank holidays.

Which bank holidays are included?

Working-day calculations use England and Wales bank holidays from 2025 to 2027.

Are start and end dates included?

Days-between counts the difference between dates; working-day counts include both start and end dates.

Is holiday entitlement including bank holidays?

The statutory 5.6 weeks can include bank holidays. Check your contract for how your employer handles them.

Related calculators

• Age Calculator
• Working Days Calculator (UK)
• Holiday Entitlement Calculator
• Add Days to a Date Calculator

For the full method, read How to Calculate the Days Between Two Dates in the UK: Step-by-Step Guide.