Knowing how to calculate notice period is the first step to finding your exact last working day. Take your resignation date, add one day to get your start date, then count forward by the number of days, weeks, or months in your contract. Most notice periods use calendar days, so weekends count. If that date falls on a weekend or public holiday, check your contract for what applies. Use the calculator below to get the exact date. If you are unsure how to calculate notice period from your contract, the steps below cover every scenario including calendar days, working days, and country-specific rules.
Use the Notice Period Calculator
What Is a Notice Period?
A notice period is the time between when you resign or receive a termination notice and your last working day. The length comes from your employment contract or the statutory minimum in your country, whichever is higher. Your employer sets the contractual period. The law sets the floor. You always get the better of the two. Your contract is the first place to look when you need to calculate notice period correctly.
How to Calculate Notice Period
Follow these four steps to find your last working day.
- Check your employment contract for the notice length. It will show days, weeks, or months.
- Confirm whether it is calendar days or working days. Most contracts use calendar days. Working days are only used when the contract says so explicitly.
- Find your start date. In most countries, the notice period starts the day after you resign, not the day you hand in your letter.
- Count forward from the start date by the full notice length. That date is your last working day.
Example: You resign on Monday 1 June 2026. Your contract requires four weeks notice. Your notice starts on Tuesday 2 June. Four weeks later is Monday 29 June 2026. That is your last working day.
Use the notice period calculator to get the exact date. It applies your country’s public holidays automatically so you do not need to calculate notice period manually.
These four steps work for any contract, anywhere you need to know how to calculate notice period.
Does Your Notice Period Include Weekends?
Yes. In most cases, your notice period includes weekends.
Most employment contracts state notice in calendar days, weeks, or months. Calendar days include Saturday and Sunday. A 30-day notice period runs for 30 consecutive days, including weekends. It is not 30 working days. This is one of the most common mistakes people make when they do not know how to calculate notice period correctly.
Your contract uses working days only if it says so explicitly. If it says “30 days” without specifying, treat it as calendar days. Check with your HR department or the relevant authority in your country if you are unsure.
When Does a Notice Period Start?
In most countries, the notice period starts the day after you submit your resignation.
If you resign on a Monday, your notice starts on Tuesday. South African law is explicit on this point. The Basic Conditions of Employment Act states that notice begins on the day after notice is given. The UK and Australia follow the same convention in practice.
Some companies specify in the contract that notice starts on the same day. Check your contract first. Getting this date wrong is the most common error when people do not know how to calculate notice period correctly.
Example: You resign on Friday 5 June 2026 with two weeks notice. Your notice starts Saturday 6 June. Your last working day is Friday 19 June 2026.
Statutory Notice Periods by Country
The statutory minimum is the legal floor. Your contract sets the actual period. Where the contract is longer, the contract applies. Where it is shorter than the legal minimum, the law overrides it.
| Country | Under 6 months | 6 to 12 months | 1 year or more | Maximum |
| United Kingdom | 1 Week | 1 Week | 1 week per year | 12 weeks |
| South Africa | 1 Week | 2 Weeks | 4 weeks | Contract |
| Australia | 1 Week | 1 Week | Up to 4 weeks | 4 weeks (5 weeks if over 45 with 2+ years service) |
| United States | None | None | None | Employment is at-will |
UK rules come from the Employment Rights Act 1996. South Africa rules come from the Basic Conditions of Employment Act. Australia rules come from the National Employment Standards under the Fair Work Act 2009. The US has no statutory minimum. Two weeks is a professional norm there, not a legal requirement.
Use these figures as your floor when you need to know how to calculate notice period in each country.
Notice Period Calculation Examples
One month and four weeks is a common source of mistakes. They are not the same.
| Scenario | Resignation date | Notice length | Notice starts | Last working day |
| 1 month notice | 1 June 2026 | 1 calendar month | 2 June 2026 | 2 July 2026 |
| 4 weeks notice | 1 June 2026 | 28 calendar days | 2 June 2026 | 29 June 2026 |
| 2 weeks notice | 15 June 2026 | 14 calendar days | 16 June 2026 | 29 June 2026 |
One month and four weeks is a common source of mistakes when learning how to calculate notice period.
One month adds a full calendar month from the start date. Four weeks adds exactly 28 days. If you resign on 1 June with one month notice, your last day is 2 July. If your contract says four weeks, your last day is 29 June. Three days earlier.
Read your contract carefully. “One month” and “four weeks” are not interchangeable.
Use the free notice period calculator to find your exact last working day. Enter your resignation date, your notice length, and your country. The calculator applies your country’s public holidays and returns the exact date.
Go to the Notice Period Calculator
Frequently Asked Questions
| Question | Answer |
| How do I calculate my notice period? | Check your contract for the notice length. Add one day to your resignation date to get the start date. Count forward by the full notice length in calendar days, weeks, or months. That date is your last working day. |
| Does notice period include weekends? | Yes. Most notice periods use calendar days, which include weekends. A 14-day notice period runs for 14 consecutive days including Saturday and Sunday, unless your contract specifically states working days. |
| When does a notice period start? | In most countries, the notice period starts the day after you resign. If you resign on Monday, your notice starts on Tuesday. Some employers specify the same day in the contract, so check yours. |
| What is the difference between 1 month and 4 weeks notice? | They are not the same. One month adds a calendar month from the start date. Four weeks adds exactly 28 days. If you resign on 1 June with one month notice your last day is 2 July. With four weeks notice your last day is 29 June. |
| What happens if my last day falls on a public holiday? | This depends on your contract and country. In Australia, public holidays during a notice period do not extend it under the Fair Work Act. In other countries the contract wording governs. Use the notice period calculator and select your country to get the accurate date. |
| Can my employer make me leave before my notice period ends? | Yes. Your employer can ask you to leave early and pay you for the remaining days instead. This is called payment in lieu of notice, or PILON. Whether PILON applies depends on your contract and country law. |
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Last updated: June 2026. Definitions verified against legal contract databases and official carrier documentation.