5 business days is one calendar week. Business days are Monday to Friday, minus public holidays, so five of them always end on the same weekday one week later. A holiday in between adds a day. Counting from today, 5 business days after is , excluding United States (federal) holidays.
“Within 5 business days” means by the end of the fifth business day, not before it. Day 1 is the first business day after the request. For other numbers, see business days from today or use the business days calculator.
5 business days from today
The date above skips US federal holidays and changes every day. For a bank, or a business in another country, the holiday calendar is different:
- Banks (Federal Reserve calendar): 5 business days after is , excluding United States (Federal Reserve and banks) holidays.
- England and Wales (5 working days): 5 business days after is , excluding England and Wales holidays.
- Canada: 5 business days after is , excluding Canada (federal statutory) holidays.
Today: Yes. is a business day for United States (federal). A request made on a weekend or holiday starts counting on the next business day.
5 business days by start day
This table assumes no holiday in the week and a request made before the cutoff time.
| Request made on | Day 1 | 5th business day | Calendar days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Tuesday | Monday of the next week | 7 |
| Tuesday | Wednesday | Tuesday of the next week | 7 |
| Wednesday | Thursday | Wednesday of the next week | 7 |
| Thursday | Friday | Thursday of the next week | 7 |
| Friday | Monday | Friday of the next week | 7 |
| Saturday | Monday | Friday | 6 |
| Sunday | Monday | Friday | 5 |
What “within 5 business days” means
“Within 5 business days” sets a deadline: the end of the fifth business day. A refund, reply or delivery that arrives on day 5 is on time. It can come sooner, but it doesn’t have to.
Two details decide the exact date:
- The start. Most companies, banks and courts count from the next business day, so the day of the request is day 0. Some count the same day as day 1 if the request arrives before their cutoff. That moves the deadline one business day earlier.
- The end. “End of the business day” usually means close of business, often 5 p.m. local time. Contracts and legal rules may set a different time or count calendar days instead, so read the wording.
5 business days vs 5 calendar days
Calendar days count every day, weekends included. Five calendar days from Thursday is Tuesday. Five business days from Thursday is Thursday of the next week, two days later. The gap grows when a holiday is involved. See calendar days vs business days for more examples.
When a holiday falls inside the 5 days
Each public holiday in the window pushes the deadline back one business day. For example, a request made on the Monday of Thanksgiving week () uses Tuesday and Wednesday as business days 1 and 2, skips Thanksgiving, and reaches day 5 on the Tuesday after the holiday instead of the following Monday. Counted from the holiday itself: 3 business days after is , excluding United States (federal) holidays.
The next holiday: The next United States (federal) holiday is Veterans Day on , 19 days from today. The full list is on the holidays page and in the US federal holidays list, based on the OPM federal holiday schedule. Banks use the Federal Reserve holiday schedule, which differs when a holiday falls on a Saturday: federal offices close the Friday before, but the Federal Reserve Banks stay open.
Where you’ll see “5 business days”
- Refunds and bank transfers. The count starts when the merchant or bank sends the money. A refund issued late on a Friday often starts counting on Monday.
- Shipping. “Arrives in 5 business days” is the whole trip; “ships in 5 business days” is only the time before dispatch. USPS delivers on Saturdays, so some USPS estimates count Saturday. More in business days in shipping.
- Work and legal notices. Notice periods and response deadlines are often written in business days. If the last day falls on a holiday, it usually moves to the next business day, but the governing rules decide.
Related ranges
3-5 business days is 3 to 7 calendar days. 5-7 business days is 7 to 11 calendar days. 7-10 business days is 9 to 14 calendar days. For longer deadlines, see 30 business days from today.
FAQ
How many days is 5 business days?
Seven calendar days when you start on a weekday and there is no holiday. Each holiday in the window adds one day.
What is 5 business days from today?
5 business days after is , excluding United States (federal) holidays. The date updates daily.
Does “within 5 business days” include weekends?
No. Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays are skipped. Only the five working days count.
Is the day of my request counted as day 1?
Usually not. Most organizations start with the next business day. If yours counts the same day, the deadline is one business day earlier.
Are 5 working days and 5 business days the same?
Yes. “Working days” is the usual term in the UK, Canada, Australia and India. Only the holiday calendar changes.
