Semester Weeks Calculator
Count the weeks in a semester between two dates, with break weeks or exact break dates and finals removed, plus class meetings for your schedule, contact hours, the midpoint, a week-by-week calendar and which week of term it is today.
How it works
total weeks = (end − start + 1 day) ÷ 7 · instructional weeks = total weeks − break weeks (or break days ÷ 7) − finals week · class meetings = meeting days in the term − those in breaks or finals − holidays · contact hours = meetings × minutes per class ÷ 60 · midpoint = start + (days − 1) ÷ 2
A semester’s length in weeks drives how many class meetings, assignments and credit hours it can hold. The calculator counts every day from the first to the last day of term inclusive and divides by seven for the total weeks. It then takes out the breaks — either as a number of weeks, or as exact break dates so they land on the right weeks — and, if you choose, a final exam week, to give the instructional weeks that actually carry teaching. Pick your class schedule (Monday-Wednesday-Friday, Tuesday-Thursday, every weekday or a single day) and it counts the real class meetings, minus any one-off holidays, and turns them into contact hours and a US credit-hour equivalent at 750 minutes per credit. You also get the term’s midpoint (handy for midterms), the number of Monday-to-Sunday calendar weeks, a week-by-week calendar with breaks, finals and the midpoint marked, and — for today or any date you pick — which week of term it is and how much is left.
Worked example
A term from Monday, August 24 to Friday, December 11, 2026 spans 110 days inclusive — 15.7 weeks, or 15 weeks and 5 days, across 16 calendar weeks. Removing one break week leaves about 14.7 instructional weeks. Entered as dates instead, a Thanksgiving break from Monday, November 23 to Friday, November 27 is 5 weekdays, or exactly one break week, and lands in week 14. A Monday-Wednesday-Friday class then meets 45 times (48 class days minus 3 in the break); with Labor Day as one more holiday that is 44 meetings of 50 minutes, or about 36.7 contact hours. The midpoint of the term is Saturday, October 17, 2026, and on October 18 the term is in week 8 of 16 with 7.9 weeks left.
Frequently asked questions
Are both the start and end dates counted?
Yes — the total is inclusive, so a Monday-to-Friday single week counts the start and end days, giving five days. That is why the formula adds one day before dividing by seven.
How many weeks is a normal semester?
US semesters usually run 15–16 weeks of instruction (16–17 with finals). Quarters are about 10 weeks, and UK terms 10–12. Enter your real dates for an exact figure.
Should I enter breaks as a number or as dates?
A number is quick: each break week is removed from the total and takes one week of class meetings with it. Dates are exact: the break days are removed wherever they fall, partial breaks such as a three-day weekend count correctly, and the week-by-week calendar shows them.
How are class meetings and contact hours counted?
The calculator walks every day of the term and counts the days that match your schedule, then removes those in breaks or finals week and any holidays you enter. Contact hours are meetings × minutes per class ÷ 60. The credit-hour figure divides the total minutes by 750, a common US rule of thumb for one semester credit hour of classroom time.
What counts as a break week?
Any full week with no scheduled classes — reading or revision week, spring or fall break, a mid-term recess. Single days off, like a public holiday, are better entered under “Holidays or cancelled classes”.
Which week of term are we in?
Week 1 is the Monday-to-Sunday week that contains the first day of term, and each later calendar week adds one. The result shows the current week for today, or for any date you set under More options, plus the weeks and class meetings left.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.