3 business days means 3 working days, from Monday to Friday. Weekends and public holidays don’t count. So if you start counting on Monday, 3 business days later is Thursday.
Many companies use business days for shipping, refunds, and deadlines. Understanding how to count them helps you know exactly when to expect things.
What Are Business Days?
Business days are the days when most businesses operate. In the United States and many other countries, these are:
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
Weekends (Saturday and Sunday) are not business days. Federal holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Year’s Day also don’t count as business days.
How to Count 3 Business Days
Counting 3 business days is simple. You skip weekends and holidays and count only working days.
Examples From Each Day of the Week
- Starting on Monday: 3 business days = Thursday
- Starting on Tuesday: 3 business days = Friday
- Starting on Wednesday: 3 business days = Monday (next week)
- Starting on Thursday: 3 business days = Tuesday (next week)
- Starting on Friday: 3 business days = Wednesday (next week)
- Starting on Saturday: Start counting from Monday, so 3 business days = Wednesday
- Starting on Sunday: Start counting from Monday, so 3 business days = Wednesday
3 Business Days vs 3 Calendar Days
This is where many people get confused. These two terms mean different things.
3 calendar days means any 3 days in a row. This includes weekends and holidays. If today is Monday, 3 calendar days later is Thursday.
3 business days means 3 working days only. Weekends and holidays don’t count. If today is Friday, 3 business days later is Wednesday of the next week.
Always check if a company says “business days” or “calendar days” in their policies.
Does 3 Business Days Include Weekends?
No, 3 business days does not include weekends. Saturday and Sunday are not counted as business days.
If a package ships on Thursday with “3 business day delivery,” it won’t arrive on Sunday. It will arrive on Tuesday because:
- Day 1: Friday
- Day 2: Monday (skip the weekend)
- Day 3: Tuesday
Does 3 Business Days Include Holidays?
No, federal holidays and bank holidays don’t count as business days either.
Common holidays that pause business day counting:
- New Year’s Day
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Presidents’ Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day (July 4th)
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
If Monday is a holiday and you start counting on Friday, your 3 business days end on Thursday (not Wednesday).
Tips to Calculate Business Days Correctly
- Use online calculators: Our business days calculator, which will help you calculate business days quickly and accurately. Just enter your start date.
- Check the calendar: Look ahead and mark off weekends and holidays.
- Confirm with the company: If timing is important, ask the company to confirm the exact date.
- Remember time zones: A business day in one country might overlap differently with another country’s business days.
- Don’t count the start day: Usually, if something happens “on Monday,” you start counting from Tuesday as Day 1. But policies vary, so always check.
What If I Need Something Faster?
If 3 business days is too long, look for these options:
- Expedited shipping: Costs more but delivers in 1-2 business days
- Rush processing: Some services offer faster handling for a fee
- Direct contact: Call customer service to see if they can speed things up
Quick Reference Chart
| If Today Is | 3 Business Days Later Is |
|---|---|
| Monday | Thursday |
| Tuesday | Friday |
| Wednesday | Monday (next week) |
| Thursday | Tuesday (next week) |
| Friday | Wednesday (next week) |
| Saturday | Wednesday (next week) |
| Sunday | Wednesday (next week) |
*This assumes no holidays fall within the counting period.
Final Thoughts
3 business days equals 3 working days (Monday through Friday), not including weekends or holidays. The actual calendar time this takes depends on when you start counting.
Most people find it takes 3 to 5 calendar days in reality because weekends often fall within the counting period. When timing matters, always build in a small buffer and confirm the company’s policy.
Now you know exactly how to count business days and when to expect delivery, refunds, or responses!