Payroll Period Calculator
Simplify your payroll planning by generating a complete schedule of pay periods and pay dates. Choose your company's pay frequency (weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, or monthly), select the first pay date, and this tool will map out the entire year's payroll calendar for you.

Payroll Schedule

Period StartPeriod EndPay Date
Dec 1, 2025Dec 14, 2025Dec 15, 2025
Dec 15, 2025Dec 28, 2025Dec 29, 2025
Dec 29, 2025Jan 11, 2026Jan 12, 2026
Jan 12, 2026Jan 25, 2026Jan 26, 2026
Jan 26, 2026Feb 8, 2026Feb 9, 2026
Feb 9, 2026Feb 22, 2026Feb 23, 2026
Feb 23, 2026Mar 8, 2026Mar 9, 2026
Mar 9, 2026Mar 22, 2026Mar 23, 2026
Mar 23, 2026Apr 5, 2026Apr 6, 2026
Apr 6, 2026Apr 19, 2026Apr 20, 2026
Apr 20, 2026May 3, 2026May 4, 2026
May 4, 2026May 17, 2026May 18, 2026
May 18, 2026May 31, 2026Jun 1, 2026
Jun 1, 2026Jun 14, 2026Jun 15, 2026
Jun 15, 2026Jun 28, 2026Jun 29, 2026
Jun 29, 2026Jul 12, 2026Jul 13, 2026
Jul 13, 2026Jul 26, 2026Jul 27, 2026
Jul 27, 2026Aug 9, 2026Aug 10, 2026
Aug 10, 2026Aug 23, 2026Aug 24, 2026
Aug 24, 2026Sep 6, 2026Sep 7, 2026
Sep 7, 2026Sep 20, 2026Sep 21, 2026
Sep 21, 2026Oct 4, 2026Oct 5, 2026
Oct 5, 2026Oct 18, 2026Oct 19, 2026
Oct 19, 2026Nov 1, 2026Nov 2, 2026
Nov 2, 2026Nov 15, 2026Nov 16, 2026
Nov 16, 2026Nov 29, 2026Nov 30, 2026
How The Payroll Schedule is Calculated

Calculation Logic by Frequency

The calculator generates the schedule by starting with your first pay date and iteratively calculating the subsequent periods based on the selected frequency.

  • Weekly / Bi-Weekly / Monthly: For these frequencies, the calculation is straightforward. The period end date is typically the day before the pay date, and the start date is found by counting back the appropriate number of days (6 for weekly, 13 for bi-weekly). The next pay date is found by adding 1 week, 2 weeks, or 1 month respectively.
  • Semi-Monthly: This is more complex. The paydays are assumed to be the 15th and the last day of the month.
    • If a pay date is the 15th, its period covers the 1st to the 15th of the month.
    • If a pay date is the last day of the month, its period covers the 16th to the last day of that month.
    The calculator alternates between these two to generate the schedule.

Example From Your Generated Schedule

Based on a starting pay date of December 15, 2025 and a bi-weekly frequency:

  • First Pay Period: The calculator worked backward from your first pay date to establish the first period, from Dec 1 to Dec 14.
  • Subsequent Periods: It then repeatedly added the interval (2 weeks) to find each following pay date and its corresponding period.

This loop continued for the 26 periods you requested, creating the full schedule you see above.

Other Work & Payroll Calculators