Paychecks Per Year Calculator
Some years have an extra paycheck. This counts the pay dates in a year for weekly, biweekly, twice-a-month and monthly pay, so you can plan for it.
- Free
- Works offline after your first visit
- Saves on this device
- No sign-up
- Updated
How it works
Weekly pay falls every 7 days and biweekly pay every 14 days. Starting from the first pay date of the year, the calculator counts each date that lands on or before 31 December.
Twice-a-month pay is 24 dates a year and monthly pay is 12. A year with more than 26 pay dates is the kind that brings an extra paycheck.
Worked example
Starting on 2026-01-09, the year 2,026 has 26 pay dates. Years with more than 26 are the ones that add an extra paycheck.
Questions
Why do some years have 27 paychecks?
Biweekly pay comes every two weeks, which is 26 times in a usual year. A 27th date appears when the first pay date is early enough that one more two-week cycle fits before 31 December.
What counts as the first pay date?
Use the first pay date that falls in the year you chose. Your pay stub or your employer's pay calendar will show it.
Why is twice a month always 24?
Twice a month means two fixed dates in each month, so the count is 24 whatever the weekday. Monthly pay is 12 for the same reason.
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