ACE Money Transfer
ACE Money Transfer
31 Oct 2025
Australia is known for its great work-life balance, but have you ever wondered how many actual working days people have in a year?
Whether you're planning your annual leave, calculating work hours, or budgeting your salary, many people want the exact number of working days or business days for planning, not just a rough estimate.
In 2026, Australians will have roughly 251 to 260 working days, depending on which state or territory they live in.
The total number of working days in Australia in 2026 averages around 250 across the calendar year, but this number varies by state due to differences in public holidays and weekends.
Let's start with the basics. Calculating how many workdays are in a year may look like a simple task, but the exact count depends on weekends and public holidays. According to the Australian Government's Fair Work Ombudsman (2026 data), most full-time employees in Australia work 38 hours per week, Monday to Friday.
Here's how we calculate:
Start with total calendar days: 365 (366 in leap years)
Subtract weekends: 104 weekend days (52 Saturdays + 52 Sundays)
Subtract public holidays: 10–14, depending on the state and territory
In a leap year, like 2024, the year has 366 days and occurs every four years, which can slightly change a typical working week count.
Example calculation:
365 total days – 104 weekend days – 11 public holidays = 250 working days
This gives a detailed breakdown of how many business days are left in a normal year.
Yes — the same number of working days does not apply across all states and territories in Australia. Each state and territory observes different public holidays, which slightly changes the total.
Here's a quick look at the average number by state for 2026:
| State/Territory | Approx. Public Holidays (2026) | Estimated Working Days |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales (NSW) | 11 | ~250 |
| Victoria (VIC) | 13 | ~248 |
| Queensland (QLD) | 10 | ~251 |
| South Australia (SA) | 12 | ~249 |
| Western Australia (WA) | 10 | ~251 |
| Tasmania (TAS) | 12 | ~249 |
| Northern Territory (NT) | 10 | ~251 |
| Australian Capital Territory (ACT) | 12 | ~249 |
As we can see, some states have more workdays than others because bank holidays and public holidays differ locally; places like Victoria and ACT have more public holidays, while Western Australia and Queensland have fewer holidays and more workdays.
Australia has several national public holidays, and some state-specific holidays. These are non-working days that directly reduce the yearly total.
Here are the major ones observed across most regions:
New Year's Day – 1 January
Australia Day – 26 January
Good Friday – 29 March (2026)
Easter Monday – 1 April (2026)
ANZAC Day – 25 April
Christmas Day – 25 December
Boxing Day – 26 December
If a public holiday or bank holiday falls on a weekend, some employers observe it on the following Monday.
State-specific holidays include Labour Day, Queen's Birthday, and local events such as Adelaide Cup Day in South Australia and Canberra Day in the Australian Capital Territory, while additional holidays in some states further change the working calendar.
Each of these adds to the total number of weekends and public holidays, reducing working days for the year.
Fewer working days don't necessarily mean less productivity — it's all about work-life balance. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported in 2024 that over 35% of workers now use flexible schedules, but most businesses still follow a standard Monday to Friday pattern, highlighting the shift toward a healthy work-life balance as well as productivity. Australia ranks among the top countries for employee satisfaction and flexibility.
Many employers encourage:
Flexible hours (e.g., remote or hybrid work)
Time-in-lieu for overtime, or overtime pay where applicable under awards or agreements
Paid annual leave (usually 20 days per year) as part of broader paid leave and paid days away from work
This approach supports mental health, family time, and better job satisfaction.
Knowing the actual number of working days in a year helps individuals and businesses plan effectively, because leave and absences change the real figure.
For individuals:
Manage leave applications, including sick days and other factors that reduce available work time
Track work hours and income projections
Plan personal goals or study schedules
For businesses and HR teams:
Forecast annual payroll costs using leave entitlements and holiday entitlement when staffing levels are being planned, noting that rules can differ by employer in the private sector
Calculate employee productivity
Align project timelines with realistic calendars, including planning between two dates when mapping rosters, deadlines, or leave periods, and a clear work schedule for part-time workers across different working patterns so they receive the same amount of leave on a pro-rated basis
In short, the 2026 calendar gives the exact number only after weekends and public holidays are deducted state by state:
365 total days
104 weekends
10–14 public holidays, depending on the state
Approximately 250 working days in total
From this total, annual work hours can then be estimated using the number of working days and your usual weekly hours.
The total number of working days in Australia in 2026 averages around 250, varying slightly by state due to local holidays.
This 2026 work schedule still supports a strong work-life balance while helping people stay productive.
There are around 250 working days in 2026, depending on the state and number of public holidays, so if you're asking how many workdays there are, treat that figure as an approximate state-based estimate rather than one national total.
Between 10 and 14, varying by state and territory.
No, weekends (Saturday and Sunday) are not counted as working days. There are 104 weekend days in a standard year.
Victoria and ACT often have the fewest, as they observe more public holidays.
Employees working on a public holiday are usually entitled to penalty rates, as defined by their award or agreement.
