Working days in October 2026
October 2026 has 21 working days in the United States: 22 weekdays minus 1 federal holiday, Columbus Day on Monday 12 October. At 8 hours a day that is 168 working hours. The month runs from Thursday 1 October to Saturday 31 October: 31 days, 22 weekdays and 9 weekend days.
- Working days
- 21
- Working hours
- 168
- Weekdays
- 22
- Weekend days
- 9
- Federal holidays
- 1
- Calendar days
- 31
- First working day
- Thursday 1 October
- Last working day
- Friday 30 October
Calendar for October 2026
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
- Weekend
- Federal holiday
The month opens on a Thursday, so Thursday 1 October is also its first working day. It ends on a weekend, Saturday 31 October, which makes Friday 30 October the last working day. October 2026 has five Thursdays, five Fridays and five Saturdays, and four of every other day: 4 Mondays to start a week on and 5 Fridays to finish one. It covers days 274 to 304 of the year and ISO weeks 40 to 44.
Working days in each week of October 2026
Weeks run Monday to Sunday and carry their ISO week number. Only the days inside October are counted, so a week the month shares with September or November shows just its share.
| Week | Dates | Working days | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 40 | 1 to 4 October | 2 | Part week, the month starts mid-week |
| Week 41 | 5 to 11 October | 5 | Full week, no holiday |
| Week 42 | 12 to 18 October | 4 | Columbus Day |
| Week 43 | 19 to 25 October | 5 | Full week, no holiday |
| Week 44 | 26 to 31 October | 5 | Part week, the month ends mid-week |
How the working days in October 2026 are counted
One federal holiday falls in October 2026: Columbus Day on Monday 12 October 2026. It takes one weekday out of the count, leaving 21 working days from 22 weekdays.
The rule is the same on every page here: count Monday to Friday, then take off any federal holiday that lands on one of those days. The holiday dates are the ones the US Office of Personnel Management publishes for federal pay and leave. State holidays, religious holidays and company closures are not included, and other countries have different lists entirely, so treat 21 as the federal baseline for October 2026 and adjust it for your own calendar.
October 2026 next to the months around it
October 2026 has 21 working days, the same as September 2026 and two days more than November 2026 (19). A 31-day month has 21, 22 or 23 weekdays depending on the day it starts on; a Thursday start gives this one 22, and the holiday count settles the final figure.
October is the first month of the fourth quarter. Q4 2026 has 62 working days in total: October 21, November 19 and December 22. That is 496 working hours for the quarter at 8 hours a day, out of 2,000 for the whole of 2026.
Count working days in October 2026 with your own holidays
Open the business days calculator with October 2026 filled in, with the federal holiday dates already in the holiday box. Add your state or company holidays, or take out the federal ones that your employer does not observe, and the count updates as you type. The calculator can also count from a date in the middle of the month, or find the date a set number of working days ahead, which is how most deadlines are written.
Questions people ask
How many working days are in October 2026?
21. October 2026 has 22 weekdays (Monday to Friday) and 1 federal holiday on a weekday, Columbus Day on Monday 12 October, which leaves 21. Weekends, 9 days this month, are not working days.
How many working hours are in October 2026?
168 hours at 8 hours a day: 21 working days times 8. On a 7.5 hour day it is 157.5 hours, and a 40 hour week over 22 weekdays with no holidays would be 176 hours.
Is there a federal holiday in October 2026?
Yes, one: Columbus Day on Monday 12 October 2026. It falls on a weekday, so it is taken off the count.
What are the first and last working days of October 2026?
The first working day is Thursday 1 October 2026. The last working day is Friday 30 October 2026, because the month ends on a Saturday.
How many weekends are in October 2026?
9 weekend days: 5 Saturdays and 4 Sundays. That is the usual nine for a month of this length and starting day.