In this swift-moving global market, timing is everything, especially in the business world. One of the questions that professionals and consumers alike are frequently faced with is “how long is a business day?” Although the answer seems straightforward, clarification can be complicated and subject to context, industry, regional and any legal arrangements.
In this guide, we will outline what is a business day, how long business days normally are, and why it is useful to have a working understanding of business days, especially in regards to finance, shipping, legally binding arrangements, and customer service.
What is a Business Day?
Before we can approach how long is a business day, we need to clarify what it is. As a general rule, a business day is considered to be any weekday (Monday – Friday) that is not a public holiday. Business days are the weekdays that comprise the normal business working week.
In most western business models, business days are generally not classified as weekends or federally recognized holidays. Furthermore, within each industry of geographic market, business days and their length can vary.
How Long Does a Business Day Last?
Most of us would answer the question about how long is a business day as eight hours, usually from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, that includes a one-hour lunch break if you work in an office. This is referred to as the “9-to-5” work schedule.
This is obviously a generalization. Here are a few degrees of different business day formats.
1. Standard Corporate Hours (North America)
Most businesses in North America operate during the business day from 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday to Friday. So, the answer to the question of how long is a business day is 8 hours (unless otherwise stated) even if lunch isn’t considered.
2. Government and Public Services
Most government agencies operate from 8 A.M. to 4 P.M., or 9 A.M. to 5 P.M., and depending on the department and state can answer the question how long is a business day a little differently, 7 to 8 hours maximum.
3. Financial Institutions
Most institutional entities and markets operate on as separate business day. For example, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) runs from 9:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. EST, establishing a business day of 6.5 hours.
4. E-commerce and Online Services
E-commerce, or online business and support, may cause the typical understanding of how long does a business day apply differently. Many operate 24/7 and customer support hours extend beyond a typical business day, the most common example being online.
Why It’s Important: Real-Life Uses of Business Days
Knowing how long is a business day is important for businesses and consumers. Here’s why it’s important:
1. Delivery Times and Shipping
Many shippers and retailers give timeframes in business days. If you see “3 business days” or “10 business days,” knowing how long is a business day helps you adjust expectations. Orders placed on a Friday may not even process until the following Monday.
2. Financial Transactions
In banking and finance, everything relates to business days and when transactions are processed. For example, ACH transfers or loan approvals often process on business days only. Generally, business days are 8 hours long.
3. Contract Deadlines and Legal Agreements
Although less formal than in previous years, many legal documents refer to business days for things like delivery of documents, payment timelines, or timeframe for a commercial dispute resolution. For example, if a business day ends up being 12 calendar days, you will likely not meet contractual obligations or miss contractually obligations deadlines.
4. Customer Service Responses
When businesses say they will respond “within 1 business day”, this usually means responding within an 8 hour window on any weekday; knowing how long is a business day allows you to manage expectations for follow-ups.
How Long is a Business Day Around the Globe?
Due to time zones, cultural customs, and/or labor laws, the length of a business day differs from one country to the next. Here are some examples:
- United Kingdom: 9 AM to 5 PM (8 hours)
- Germany: 8 AM to 4 PM, or 9 AM to 5 PM
- Japan: 9 AM to 6 PM, with a long lunch
- United Arab Emirates: Sunday – Thursday, with a weekend of Friday/Saturday.
- India: Varies, but mostly 10 AM to 6 PM.
If you’re simply wondering how long a business day is globally, it typically ranges from 7 to 9 hours based on local customs and laws.
Settings: When Business Days are Irregular
Some industries and situations exist that further define how long is a business day.
1. Retail and Hospitality
Retail, restaurants and hotels operate 7 days a week, and on holidays, so “business day” may just be any day and a store is open.
2. Technology and back-office service support
These companies are often 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. However, businesses may still have back-end processes, like billing or operations, that need to be done during a business day.
3. Freelancing and remote work
Freelancers can set their own schedules, so when
Commonly Asked Questions about Business Days
Q: How many hours are business day?
A: A typical business day is 8 hours, commonly 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Q: Do business days include weekends?
A: No, business days typically apply to Monday – Friday. weekends and public holidays do not apply.
Q: What if I order on a Friday, when will it ship?
A: Likely the order will start processing on the next business day, Monday… holidays assume there are none.
Q: How long is a business day for banks?
A: Most banks are about 6 – 8 hours per business day, commonly between 9 am and 5 pm, but each bank or branch may differ.
Business Day versus Calendar Day
It is important to differentiate a business day and a calendar day. Calendar days include all seven days of the week, while business days only refer to successful working weekdays. If something says “5 calendar days,” you count all 7 days, weekends too. But if something says it will take “5 business days,” you will typically not be counting Saturday and Sunday.
So if you are wondering “how long is a business day” in regards to total turnaround time, always inquire if the estimate is in calendar days or business days.
Tips for Managing Expectations Related to Business Day
- Identify the Time Zone: This is especially great if one is conducting business internationally. If someone says “one business day”, make certain to identify the time zone as well.
- Consider Holidays: Holidays do not occur at the same time throughout the world, and they may impact your business situation. The solution is to check the local calendar for holidays.
- Utilize Automation: Business email autoresponder and project management applications can help define and manage expectations, in regards to business days for your customers and teams.
Final Thoughts:
Why It Is Important to Understand How Long a Business Day Is
Understanding how long is a business day is crucial for managing your expectations, and commitments in your professional and private life. While we have the traditional model of a business day (9-to-5), it is not universally applicable, and there are variations from industry to industry and from country to country.
Providing insight into how much business time one is discussing is a useful piece of information in the decision-making process—waiting for a shipment, negotiating elements of a deal, timing a payment, or completing a contract. The time it takes to complete a business day is probably one of those items you do not think to important, and may even seem inconsequential or
