Time calculators

Notice Period Calculator

Updated Sep 17, 2026 By Infinity Calculator
Rate Formulas
Calculation Direction
Your Notice Details
The day you hand in (or plan to hand in) your notice.
Check your contract — this shifts every output date by one day.
Enter the length stated in your contract.
The same rule is applied if the end date lands on a public holiday.
Holidays in this calendar are excluded from working-day counts.
Half days supported (e.g. 2.5). Leave is assumed to be taken at the end of the notice period.
Used only for the statutory minimum comparison below.
Applied after your employment formally ends.
Your Results
Your Final Working Day
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Notice Period Ends
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Earliest New Job Start Date
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Available Handover Working Days
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Statutory Minimum Check

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Notice Period Timeline
    Notice Period Breakdown
    Step-by-Step Solution
    How Your Notice Period Is Made Up

    Introduction

    The Notice Period Calculator tells you when your job ends after you resign. Type in the day you hand in your notice and how long your notice period is. You get your last working day, the day your notice ends, and the first day you can start a new job.

    You can also work backwards. If you already know the last day you want to work, the calculator shows the date you must resign by to make it happen.

    It counts real working days, not just calendar days. Weekends and public holidays are taken out for you. Pick your holiday calendar from places like England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland, the US, Canada, or Australia.

    Got annual leave left? Add it in. Those days come off the end of your notice, so you can see how much sooner you stop working. Half days work too.

    You also get a handover day count, a simple timeline, a step-by-step breakdown, and a check against the UK statutory minimum notice rule. Read your contract as well, since your employer may ask for more notice than the law does.

    How to use our Notice Period Calculator

    Enter your resignation date, your notice length, and a few work details. The notice period calculator shows your last working day, the date your notice ends, your earliest new job start date, and how many handover days you have left.

    Calculation Direction: Pick "Forward" if you know the date you will hand in your notice. Pick "Reverse" if you know the last day you want to work and need to find your resignation deadline.

    Date of Resignation / Last Working Day: Type the date, or tap Today, Tomorrow, or Next Monday. In Reverse mode, this is the last day you want to work.

    When Does the Notice Period Begin: Choose if your notice starts the same day you resign or the day after. Check your contract, as this moves every date by one day.

    Notice Period Length and Unit: Enter the number from your contract and pick days, weeks, or months. You can also tap a preset like 1 Month or 3 Months.

    If the Notice End Date Falls on a Weekend: Choose to move the end date back to Friday, forward to Monday, or keep the date as it is. The same rule is used for public holidays.

    Public Holiday Calendar: Pick your country or region. Those holidays are taken out of the working day count. Choose "None" to skip holidays.

    Annual Leave Days to Use During Notice Period: Enter how many holiday days you will take before you leave. Half days work too, like 2.5. Leave is used at the end of your notice.

    Your Length of Service: Pick how long you have worked there. This checks your notice against the UK statutory minimum under ERA 1996 s.86(2).

    Preferred New Job Start Date: Choose the earliest working day, the next Monday, or skip the last week of the month.

    Press Calculate to see your results, timeline, breakdown, and step-by-step working. Press Reset to start again.

    What Is a Notice Period?

    A notice period is the time between the day you hand in your resignation and the day your job officially ends. You keep working, and keep getting paid, during this time. Your boss uses it to plan a handover and hire someone new. Your contract sets the length. Common lengths are 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, or even 6 months for senior jobs.

    When Your Notice Period Starts

    Most contracts say notice starts the day after you hand in your letter. Some say it starts the same day. This sounds small, but it moves every date by one day, including your last working day. Check the wording in your contract before you plan anything.

    Statutory Minimum Notice in the UK

    Under the Employment Rights Act 1996 (section 86), an employee who has worked at least 1 month must give at least 1 week's notice. If you have worked less than 1 month, no statutory notice is needed. Your contract can ask for more than the legal minimum, and usually does. The longer notice wins.

    Employers must give more notice than employees. An employer gives 1 week per full year of service, up to 12 weeks.

    Weekends and Public Holidays

    Notice is normally counted in calendar days, so weekends and bank holidays still count toward the total. But if the end date lands on a Saturday, Sunday, or public holiday, most workplaces move the last working day to the Friday before or the Monday after. Public holidays also change how many real working days you get for handover.

    Using Annual Leave During Notice

    Many people use leftover holiday at the end of their notice. This makes your last working day earlier than the day your employment formally ends. You still stay on the payroll until the notice runs out. Half days are allowed at many jobs, so 2.5 days is fine. Your employer has to agree to the dates, and some say no if the handover is not finished.

    If you do not use the leave, your employer must usually pay it out in your final pay slip.

    Last Working Day vs. Leaving Date

    • Last working day: the final day you actually turn up and work.
    • Employment end date: the last day of your notice, when the contract stops. Use this date on job forms and references.
    • Handover days: the working days left after you take out weekends, holidays, and annual leave. These are the days you have to train your replacement and write notes.

    Starting a New Job

    You can usually start a new job the first working day after your employment ends. Many people pick the following Monday so the first week is clean. Some avoid the last week of the month, because pay runs and month-end reports make it a busy time to join.

    Other Things to Know

    • Garden leave: your boss can tell you to stay home for part or all of the notice. You are still paid and still employed.
    • Pay in lieu of notice (PILON): your boss pays you for the notice and you leave right away. This only works if your contract allows it, or if both sides agree.
    • Leaving early: walking out before your notice ends can break your contract. Ask first and get the agreement in writing.
    • Always resign in writing and keep a copy with the date on it. That date is the start of everything.

    Formulas used

    Notice start date
    D_{\text{start}} = \begin{cases} D_{\text{resign}} & \text{if notice starts same day} \\ D_{\text{resign}} + 1\ \text{day} & \text{if notice starts next day} \end{cases}
    Raw notice end date
    D_{\text{rawEnd}} = \begin{cases} D_{\text{start}} + n - 1\ \text{days} & \text{(calendar days)} \\ D_{\text{start}} + (n \times 7) - 1\ \text{days} & \text{(weeks)} \\ D_{\text{start}} + n\ \text{months} - 1\ \text{day} & \text{(months)} \end{cases}
    Total calendar days in notice period
    C = D_{\text{adjEnd}} - D_{\text{start}} + 1
    Working days in notice period
    W = C - W_{\text{weekend}} - H_{\text{weekday}}
    Final working day (annual leave applied at end of notice)
    D_{\text{final}} = D_{\text{adjEnd}} - \lfloor L \rfloor\ \text{working days}
    Available handover working days
    H_{\text{handover}} = \max\left(0,\; W - L_{\text{used}}\right)
    Notice period expressed in weeks (statutory check)
    W_{\text{weeks}} = \frac{C}{7} \quad \text{pass if } W_{\text{weeks}} \ge R_{\text{weeks}}
    Reverse mode: latest resignation date
    D_{\text{resign}} = \max\{\, d : D_{\text{final}}(d) \le D_{\text{target}} \,\}

    Frequently asked questions

    Does a one month notice period mean 30 days or a calendar month?

    It means a calendar month, not a fixed 30 days. If your notice starts on 15 March, it runs to 14 April. If it starts on 15 February, it still ends on 14 March, even though February is shorter.

    Only count a set number of days if your contract clearly says something like "30 days' notice".

    What happens if my notice starts on the 31st and the next month is shorter?

    The notice end date moves back to the last day of that month. One month of notice starting 31 January ends on 28 February (or 29 in a leap year), because there is no 31 February.

    The same rule applies to 3 or 6 month notice periods that land on a short month.

    Can my employer refuse my holiday request during my notice period?

    Yes. Annual leave always needs your employer's approval, and that does not change when you resign. Employers often refuse if the handover is not done.

    If they refuse, the leave you do not take is normally paid out in your final pay.

    Can my employer force me to use my holiday during my notice period?

    Yes, in the UK they can tell you to take leave. Under the Working Time Regulations they must give you notice of at least twice the length of the leave.

    So to make you take 5 days off, they must tell you at least 10 days before it starts.

    Do you still build up holiday during your notice period?

    Yes. You keep earning holiday right up to your employment end date, not your last working day. Notice time is normal service.

    So a 3 month notice period adds around a quarter of your yearly leave to your balance.

    What happens to unused holiday when you leave a job?

    Your employer must pay you for any leave you have earned but not taken. It shows up in your final pay slip.

    If you have taken more leave than you earned, your employer may deduct it from your last pay, but only if your contract allows that.

    Can I hand in my notice while I am on annual leave?

    Yes. Notice starts when your employer receives your written resignation, even if you are away. Email is fine unless your contract asks for a signed letter.

    Keep a dated copy, because that date sets your last working day.

    What happens if I am off sick during my notice period?

    Your notice keeps running. Sick days do not push your leaving date back.

    You get sick pay under your normal contract or company sick pay rules. If your contract gives full pay while sick, you should still get it during notice.

    Does my notice period include weekends and bank holidays?

    Yes. Notice is counted in calendar days, so Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays all count toward the total.

    They do cut down your handover time though. A 4 week notice period is 28 calendar days but only about 20 working days, or fewer if a bank holiday falls inside it.

    What if my last day of notice falls on a weekend or public holiday?

    Your contract still ends on that date, but most workplaces move your last working day. Usually it shifts back to the Friday before, or forward to the next working day.

    Ask HR which way your employer does it, then use the same date on job forms.

    Can I start a new job before my notice period ends?

    Only with your old employer's agreement. You are still employed until your notice ends, so working somewhere else can break your contract.

    Your safest first day is the first working day after your employment end date. If you want to start sooner, ask for a shorter notice period in writing.

    How long is a notice period during probation?

    Most probation contracts ask for 1 week or less, sometimes just a day or two. Check the probation part of your contract, not the main notice clause.

    Once you have worked 1 month, UK law expects at least 1 week's notice from you, even in probation.

    Am I paid normally during my notice period?

    Yes. You get your usual pay, and your usual benefits, until your employment end date. That includes days you are on approved holiday or garden leave.

    Bonuses and commission depend on your contract wording, so read that part closely.

    How many handover days will I actually have?

    Take your calendar notice days, then remove weekends, public holidays, and any annual leave you plan to take. What is left is your real handover time.

    • 1 week notice: about 5 working days
    • 1 month notice: about 21 working days
    • 3 months notice: about 63 working days

    Each bank holiday or leave day you take drops that number by one.

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