US · 2027
2027 payroll calendar
Short answer
A 2027 payroll calendar has 52 weekly, 26 biweekly, 24 semimonthly or 12 monthly paydays, but Friday payrolls can have 53 or 27, because 1 January 2027 is a Friday. Federal Reserve banks close on 9 weekdays in 2027; a payday that falls on one, or on a weekend, usually moves to the business day before.
2027 payroll calendar, every two weeks (biweekly)
| # | Scheduled | Pay date | Moved because |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jan 8, 2027 | Fri Jan 8, 2027 | |
| 2 | Jan 22, 2027 | Fri Jan 22, 2027 | |
| 3 | Feb 5, 2027 | Fri Feb 5, 2027 | |
| 4 | Feb 19, 2027 | Fri Feb 19, 2027 | |
| 5 | Mar 5, 2027 | Fri Mar 5, 2027 | |
| 6 | Mar 19, 2027 | Fri Mar 19, 2027 | |
| 7 | Apr 2, 2027 | Fri Apr 2, 2027 | |
| 8 | Apr 16, 2027 | Fri Apr 16, 2027 | |
| 9 | Apr 30, 2027 | Fri Apr 30, 2027 | |
| 10 | May 14, 2027 | Fri May 14, 2027 | |
| 11 | May 28, 2027 | Fri May 28, 2027 | |
| 12 | Jun 11, 2027 | Fri Jun 11, 2027 | |
| 13 | Jun 25, 2027 | Fri Jun 25, 2027 | |
| 14 | Jul 9, 2027 | Fri Jul 9, 2027 | |
| 15 | Jul 23, 2027 | Fri Jul 23, 2027 | |
| 16 | Aug 6, 2027 | Fri Aug 6, 2027 | |
| 17 | Aug 20, 2027 | Fri Aug 20, 2027 | |
| 18 | Sep 3, 2027 | Fri Sep 3, 2027 | |
| 19 | Sep 17, 2027 | Fri Sep 17, 2027 | |
| 20 | Oct 1, 2027 | Fri Oct 1, 2027 | |
| 21 | Oct 15, 2027 | Fri Oct 15, 2027 | |
| 22 | Oct 29, 2027 | Fri Oct 29, 2027 | |
| 23 | Nov 12, 2027 | Fri Nov 12, 2027 | |
| 24 | Nov 26, 2027 | Fri Nov 26, 2027 | |
| 25 | Dec 10, 2027 | Fri Dec 10, 2027 | |
| 26 | Dec 24, 2027 | Fri Dec 24, 2027 |
How many pay periods are in 2027?
It depends on the frequency and, for weekly and biweekly pay, on the weekday you pay. 2027 starts and ends on a Friday, a common payday for weekly and biweekly payrolls.
| Frequency | Paydays in 2027 | When it differs |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly | 52 | 53 if you pay on Fridays: 1 January and 31 December are both Fridays |
| Biweekly (every two weeks) | 26 | 27 if your first Friday payday is 1 January |
| Semimonthly (twice a month) | 24 | Never |
| Monthly | 12 | Never |
1 January 2027 is also New Year's Day, a bank holiday. Moved to the business day before, that payday falls on Thursday 31 December 2026, and wages count in the year they are paid, so it belongs on the 2026 Form W-2. A Friday biweekly payroll that starts on 1 January therefore has 27 scheduled paydays but pays 26 of them in 2027. If you pay an annual salary in 26 equal parts, decide before January what a 27th paycheck in a year means for it.
2027 federal holidays and bank closures
| Holiday | Date | Banks closed | Federal staff day off |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Fri, Jan 1 | Fri, Jan 1 | Fri, Jan 1 |
| Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. | Mon, Jan 18 | Mon, Jan 18 | Mon, Jan 18 |
| Washington's Birthday (Presidents Day) | Mon, Feb 15 | Mon, Feb 15 | Mon, Feb 15 |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 31 | Mon, May 31 | Mon, May 31 |
| Juneteenth National Independence Day | Sat, Jun 19 | Open (Saturday holiday) | Fri, Jun 18 |
| Independence Day | Sun, Jul 4 | Mon, Jul 5 | Mon, Jul 5 |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 6 | Mon, Sep 6 | Mon, Sep 6 |
| Columbus Day | Mon, Oct 11 | Mon, Oct 11 | Mon, Oct 11 |
| Veterans Day | Thu, Nov 11 | Thu, Nov 11 | Thu, Nov 11 |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thu, Nov 25 | Thu, Nov 25 | Thu, Nov 25 |
| Christmas Day | Sat, Dec 25 | Open (Saturday holiday) | Fri, Dec 24 |
The two right-hand columns differ twice in 2027. Juneteenth (Saturday 19 June) and Christmas Day (Saturday 25 December) give federal employees the Friday before, but the Federal Reserve Banks are open on those Fridays, so direct deposits settle as usual. New Year's Day 2028 is a Saturday too: the Banks are open on Friday 31 December 2027.
Worked example: twice-a-month pay in 2027
Paying on the 15th and the last day of the month, 8 of the 24 paydays in 2027 fall on a weekend or bank holiday and move to the business day before:
| Scheduled | Paid on | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Sun, Jan 31 | Fri, Jan 29 | Sunday |
| Mon, Feb 15 | Fri, Feb 12 | Washington's Birthday (Presidents Day) |
| Sun, Feb 28 | Fri, Feb 26 | Sunday |
| Sat, May 15 | Fri, May 14 | Saturday |
| Mon, May 31 | Fri, May 28 | Memorial Day |
| Sat, Jul 31 | Fri, Jul 30 | Saturday |
| Sun, Aug 15 | Fri, Aug 13 | Sunday |
| Sun, Oct 31 | Fri, Oct 29 | Sunday |
A biweekly Friday payroll starting on Friday 8 January has no moves at all in 2027: none of its 26 Fridays is a bank holiday, and the two Saturday holidays leave the Fridays before them open.
Should payday move earlier or later?
Federal law doesn't set a payday. States set how often employees must be paid, and the Department of Labor keeps a table of each state's rule. Paying on the business day before a weekend or holiday is the common choice because employees never get paid later than promised, and it keeps you clear of any state deadline. Whichever way you choose, use it every time and tell employees in advance.
Dates only, not legal advice. Check your state's payday law and your bank's cut-off times before you fix a schedule.
The official method, step by step
- Weekly and biweekly paydays repeat every 7 or 14 days from the first payday of the year you pick.
- Semimonthly paydays are the 15th and the last day of each month; monthly paydays are the day you pick, or the last day of the month.
- A payday on a Saturday, a Sunday or a day the Federal Reserve Banks are closed moves to the business day before (or after, if you choose). Direct deposits move through the ACH network, which follows the Federal Reserve holiday schedule, so that schedule (not the federal employee one) decides which weekdays are closed.
- When a holiday falls on a Saturday (Juneteenth and Christmas Day in 2027) the Banks stay open on the Friday before, so a Friday payday that week stays put. When it falls on a Sunday (Independence Day) the Banks close on the Monday after.
What this leaves out
- State holidays and bank closures that only some banks observe
- Your bank's or payroll provider's processing deadlines: most need the payroll a day or two before the pay date
- Pay period start and end dates, which depend on how far behind payday your periods run
- Paydays that a state's own law requires on a set day of the month
Sources: Federal Reserve Financial Services: Holiday Schedules 2026–2030 (Banks open the Friday before a Saturday holiday; closed the Monday after a Sunday holiday) (read October 7, 2026); U.S. Office of Personnel Management: Federal Holidays 2027 (read October 7, 2026); U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division: State Payday Requirements (how often each state requires employees to be paid) (read October 7, 2026).
2027 payroll calendar: common questions
How many pay periods are in 2027?
52 weekly, 26 biweekly, 24 semimonthly or 12 monthly. Friday payrolls can have 53 weekly or 27 biweekly paydays in 2027, because the year starts and ends on a Friday.
Is 2027 a 27-pay-period year?
Only for a biweekly payroll whose first Friday payday is 1 January 2027. That payday is New Year's Day, so it is usually paid on Thursday 31 December 2026, leaving 26 paydays dated in 2027.
What are the bank holidays in 2027?
The Federal Reserve Banks close on 1 January, 18 January, 15 February, 31 May, 5 July, 6 September, 11 October, 11 November and 25 November 2027. Juneteenth and Christmas fall on Saturdays, and the Banks stay open the Friday before.
What happens if payday falls on a holiday?
Most employers pay on the business day before, so the money arrives no later than promised. Some pay the business day after. Pick one rule, apply it every time and check that it meets your state's payday law.
Is Juneteenth a bank holiday in 2027?
It falls on Saturday 19 June 2027. Federal employees get Friday 18 June off, but the Federal Reserve Banks are open that Friday, so a Friday 18 June payday doesn't need to move.
When are semimonthly paydays in 2027?
The 15th and the last day of each month, 24 in all. Eight of them move to the business day before because they fall on a weekend or bank holiday; the table on this page lists them.
Can I print the 2027 payroll calendar?
Yes. Choose the frequency and first payday, then use “Print this calendar” to print the table of pay dates on its own.
Payday coming up? Make the pay stub
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