How many weeks are in a year?
A year has 52 weeks and 1 day, or 52 weeks and 2 days in a leap year. Some years have 53 week numbers.
From the Calendar (New Style) Act 1750 and ISO 8601 week numbering.
Weeks in a year
52weeks + 1 day
365 days ÷ 7 = 52 weeks, with 1 day left over. In a leap year, 366 days ÷ 7 = 52 weeks and 2 days.
2026 has 53 week numbers.
Why some years have 53 weeks
Those extra one or two days add up. Week numbers start on a Monday, and week 1 is the week with the year's first Thursday in it. A year that starts on a Thursday, or a leap year that starts on a Wednesday, has a Thursday in each of 53 Monday-to-Sunday weeks, so it has a week 53. Between 2024 and 2035, that is 2026, 2032.
| Year | Starts on a | Leap year | Days | Week numbers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Monday | Yes | 366 | 52 |
| 2025 | Wednesday | No | 365 | 52 |
| 2026 | Thursday | No | 365 | 53 |
| 2027 | Friday | No | 365 | 52 |
| 2028 | Saturday | Yes | 366 | 52 |
| 2029 | Monday | No | 365 | 52 |
| 2030 | Tuesday | No | 365 | 52 |
| 2031 | Wednesday | No | 365 | 52 |
| 2032 | Thursday | Yes | 366 | 53 |
| 2033 | Saturday | No | 365 | 52 |
| 2034 | Sunday | No | 365 | 52 |
| 2035 | Monday | No | 365 | 52 |
For shorter spans, see how many weeks are in a month and how many days are in each month.
Weeks in a year for pay
If you are paid weekly, most years have 52 paydays, but some have 53, depending on which day you are paid. Monthly pay is the same in every year. Work Calculators has calculators for pay and working days.
Calendar rules checked 14 November 2026. The rules and their sources.