Quick answer
- Weekly: 52 Friday paydays in 2026.
- Biweekly: 26 paydays from a Jan 2, 2026 Friday anchor.
- Semi-monthly: 24 scheduled paydays, usually the 15th and last day of each month.
📅 Payroll planning
2026 Pay Period Calendar
Plan 2026 weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly, and monthly pay periods with sample payday tables and a free browser payroll calendar generator.
Free browser tool Payroll calendars vary by employer, state, bank cutoff, and holiday rule. Use these 2026 tables for planning, then confirm final payroll dates with your HR/payroll provider.
2026 payroll calendar generator
Payroll rule notes
Real payroll calendars depend on employer policy. Some companies pay before a weekend or holiday; others pay after a banking holiday. The semi-monthly table below uses a previous-business-day adjustment for weekends and listed US federal holidays.
2026 pay period count by schedule
| Schedule | Typical 2026 pay dates | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly | 52 | Hourly teams, restaurants, retail, contractors |
| Biweekly | 26 from Jan 2 anchor | Common US salaried/hourly payroll |
| Semi-monthly | 24 | Salary payroll, rent/bill planning |
| Monthly | 12 | Consultants, retainers, international payroll |
Biweekly 2026 sample dates
| # | Pay date | Weekday | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jan 2, 2026 | Friday | Standard payday |
| 2 | Jan 16, 2026 | Friday | Standard payday |
| 3 | Jan 30, 2026 | Friday | Weekend-adjusted sample |
| 4 | Feb 13, 2026 | Friday | Weekend-adjusted sample |
| 5 | Feb 27, 2026 | Friday | Weekend-adjusted sample |
| 6 | Mar 13, 2026 | Friday | Weekend-adjusted sample |
| 7 | Mar 27, 2026 | Friday | Weekend-adjusted sample |
| 8 | Apr 10, 2026 | Friday | Standard payday |
| 9 | Apr 24, 2026 | Friday | Standard payday |
| 10 | May 8, 2026 | Friday | Standard payday |
| 11 | May 22, 2026 | Friday | Standard payday |
| 12 | Jun 5, 2026 | Friday | Standard payday |
| 13 | Jun 19, 2026 | Friday | Juneteenth |
| 14 | Jul 3, 2026 | Friday | Independence Day observed |
| 15 | Jul 17, 2026 | Friday | Standard payday |
| 16 | Jul 31, 2026 | Friday | Standard payday |
| 17 | Aug 14, 2026 | Friday | Weekend-adjusted sample |
| 18 | Aug 28, 2026 | Friday | Weekend-adjusted sample |
| 19 | Sep 11, 2026 | Friday | Standard payday |
| 20 | Sep 25, 2026 | Friday | Standard payday |
| 21 | Oct 9, 2026 | Friday | Standard payday |
| 22 | Oct 23, 2026 | Friday | Standard payday |
| 23 | Nov 6, 2026 | Friday | Standard payday |
| 24 | Nov 20, 2026 | Friday | Standard payday |
| 25 | Dec 4, 2026 | Friday | Standard payday |
| 26 | Dec 18, 2026 | Friday | Standard payday |
Monthly count summary
| Month | Biweekly paydays | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| January 2026 | 3 | Jan 2, 2026, Jan 16, 2026, Jan 30, 2026 |
| February 2026 | 2 | Feb 13, 2026, Feb 27, 2026 |
| March 2026 | 2 | Mar 13, 2026, Mar 27, 2026 |
| April 2026 | 2 | Apr 10, 2026, Apr 24, 2026 |
| May 2026 | 2 | May 8, 2026, May 22, 2026 |
| June 2026 | 2 | Jun 5, 2026, Jun 19, 2026 |
| July 2026 | 3 | Jul 3, 2026, Jul 17, 2026, Jul 31, 2026 |
| August 2026 | 2 | Aug 14, 2026, Aug 28, 2026 |
| September 2026 | 2 | Sep 11, 2026, Sep 25, 2026 |
| October 2026 | 2 | Oct 9, 2026, Oct 23, 2026 |
| November 2026 | 2 | Nov 6, 2026, Nov 20, 2026 |
| December 2026 | 2 | Dec 4, 2026, Dec 18, 2026 |
Related time and planning tools
FAQ
How many weekly pay periods are in 2026?
A Friday-based weekly payroll has 52 pay dates in 2026.
How many biweekly pay periods are in 2026?
A Jan 2, 2026 Friday anchor has 26 biweekly pay dates. A different anchor can shift dates and may create a different year-end pattern.
How many semi-monthly pay periods are in 2026?
Semi-monthly payroll normally has 24 pay dates: two per month.
Do these calendars include bank holidays?
The tables flag common US federal holidays and show a previous-business-day rule for semi-monthly examples, but employers may use different rules.
Source snapshot: Traffic Radar 2026-05-11-1933 kept “pay period calendar 2026” in the P0 time/date utility queue. Schedule data generated from 2026 calendar rules on 2026-05-11; US federal holiday reference uses observed 2026 dates. Content is original and intended as an educational planning utility.