U.S. Federal Government Holiday Calculator
Calculate official and observed federal holidays for any year. Great for payroll planning, leave tracking, and scheduling around long weekends.
What this government holiday calculator does
This tool calculates U.S. federal holidays for a selected year and shows both the official calendar date and the observed date used by many government offices and employers. If a fixed-date holiday lands on a Saturday, it is commonly observed on the previous Friday. If it lands on a Sunday, it is commonly observed on Monday.
That simple shift can affect office closures, payroll deadlines, direct deposit timing, mail delivery assumptions, and project schedules. By checking holidays ahead of time, you can avoid last-minute surprises.
How to use the calculator
Step 1: Choose a year
Enter any year from 1900 to 2200. The calculator generates all federal holidays for that year.
Step 2: Select one holiday or all holidays
Use the dropdown to focus on one holiday (for example, Thanksgiving) or leave it on All U.S. Federal Holidays for a full-year schedule.
Step 3: Turn observed-date adjustments on or off
If you only want the official date, uncheck the observed-date option. Keep it enabled if you need practical closure dates.
Federal holidays included
- New Year's Day (January 1)
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday in January)
- Washington's Birthday (third Monday in February)
- Memorial Day (last Monday in May)
- Juneteenth National Independence Day (June 19)
- Independence Day (July 4)
- Labor Day (first Monday in September)
- Columbus Day (second Monday in October)
- Veterans Day (November 11)
- Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November)
- Christmas Day (December 25)
Why observed dates matter in real life
In many workflows, the observed holiday matters more than the official date. For instance, if July 4 is on a Saturday, offices may close on Friday, July 3. If your team schedules a release, procurement deadline, or service cutoff on that Friday, the work may stall.
- Payroll: ACH and banking timelines can shift around holiday closures.
- Operations: Internal approvals often pause on observed holidays.
- Travel: Demand and prices can spike near long weekends.
- Support teams: Response times may vary due to reduced staffing.
Planning tips for teams and individuals
- Build your annual schedule with holidays highlighted at the start of each year.
- Identify “compressed weeks” where one holiday reduces available working days.
- Confirm vendor and partner closure calendars, which may differ from federal observance.
- Set reminders for key deadlines that fall near major holidays.
- If you manage distributed teams, compare U.S. federal holidays with regional holidays.
Frequently asked questions
Does this calculator cover state holidays?
No. It focuses on standard U.S. federal holidays. State holidays and agency-specific closure policies can differ.
Is this legal advice or an official government schedule?
No. This is an informational planning tool. Always confirm official closure notices from relevant government offices or your employer’s HR policy.
Can the observed date fall in a different year?
Yes. For example, when New Year's Day (January 1) lands on a Saturday, the observed holiday is typically Friday, December 31 of the previous year.