Months

Days until a month

The count runs from tomorrow to the first day of the month. The first day is not included, so a month that starts tomorrow shows 1 day.

If the month is already under way, the page counts to the same month next year. That keeps the count useful all year round.

Each month page also lists the holidays inside it and the weekdays it holds.

Month lengths

Seven months have 31 days, four have 30, and February has 28. In a leap year February has 29.

A rhyme or the knuckles of a fist are the usual ways to remember them. The table above gives the right length for the next time each month comes round.

Month length decides how many times a weekday appears. A 31-day month always has three weekdays that occur five times.

Leap years and February

A leap year has an extra day, February 29, to keep the calendar in step with the sun. Most years divisible by 4 are leap years.

Century years are the exception. 1900 was not a leap year, but 2000 was, because it divides by 400.

2027 is not a leap year, and 2028 is the next leap year.

Using month counts

People count to the start of a month for rent, billing dates, school terms and the end of a free trial. The weekday the month starts on tells you whether the first is a working day.

The Fridays column is handy for payday planning. A month with five Fridays has an extra payday for weekly workers.

For a date inside a month, use the calendar dates page. It links to each day.

Checking the numbers

Each count is the number of days after today up to the first of the month. You can confirm one by counting the days left in the current month and adding the length of any months in between.

The tables are rebuilt every night, so they never fall behind by more than a day.

Quarters and fiscal years

Many businesses plan by quarter. A quarter is three months, so the first of January, April, July and October are the usual starting points.

Fiscal years differ. The US federal year starts on October 1. The UK tax year starts on April 6, and Australia begins its financial year on July 1.

Use the days until figure for the month that matches your own cycle. The table shows all twelve, so you can pick the one you need. Check the start weekday too, since a first that falls on a Sunday often shifts a payment to Monday.

Seasons and months

Meteorological seasons follow whole months. Spring is March to May in the north, and summer is June to August. In the southern hemisphere these are reversed.

Astronomical seasons start on the solstices and equinoxes, which fall in the second half of the month. Our holiday pages count to those dates.

Why the first of the month matters

Many payments reset on the first. Rent, subscriptions, insurance premiums and free trials all tend to start or end there.

If the first falls on a weekend, banks may process a payment on the next business day. The starts-on column helps you see that in advance.

Counting to the first also helps with monthly goals. You can see how many days are left in the current period before the next one begins.

Weekdays in a month

A month has four full weeks plus up to three extra days. Those extra days decide which weekdays appear five times.

A month that starts on a Friday and has 31 days gives five Fridays, five Saturdays and five Sundays. That is a favourite of people who work weekends, and it gives weekly earners an extra payday in the month.