Weekend pattern guide
Custom weekend patterns sun thu fri sat
Custom weekend patterns sun thu fri sat can change every business day calculation. A Sun Thu workweek or a Fri Sat weekend shifts which days are skipped, so results move unless you set the right pattern and exclude weekends and holidays in the business day calculator.
Published: December 28, 2025 · Updated: December 28, 2025 · By FinToolSuite Editorial
Disclaimer
- Educational purposes only; not legal or financial advice.
- Examples are illustrative and simplified.
- Results depend on your inputs and assumptions and are not guaranteed.
- See the Privacy Policy; do not share personal data.
Quick answer: custom weekend patterns sun thu fri sat
- A “business day” depends on your working week.
- Sun–Thu and Fri–Sat patterns change which dates are skipped.
- Always document the weekend pattern when sharing a deadline.
What weekend patterns mean
A weekend pattern is the rule that marks which weekdays are excluded from business day counts. Many teams use Saturday–Sunday, but Sun–Thu workweek or Fri–Sat weekend setups are common in different regions. Public holidays are separate rules that layer on top of the weekend choice.
Common non standard patterns
- Sun–Thu workweek (weekend Fri–Sat).
- Sat–Wed workweek for rotating or shift-based teams.
- Four-day working weeks with one or two rest days midweek.
Worked examples
Example A: Add 5 with Sat–Sun weekend
Inputs: start Thursday, add 5 business days, weekend Sat–Sun, holidays excluded. Skips Saturday and Sunday.
Result: the following Thursday.
Example B: Add 5 with Fri–Sat weekend
Inputs: start Thursday, add 5 business days, weekend Fri–Sat, holidays excluded. Skips Friday and Saturday.
Result: the following Wednesday.
Example C: Subtract 3 with Sun–Thu workweek
Inputs: start Wednesday, subtract 3 business days, weekend Fri–Sat, holidays excluded. Skips Friday and Saturday.
Result: previous Sunday.
How to set custom weekends in the calculator
- Choose “Custom weekdays.”
- Tick non-working days (for example, Friday and Saturday).
- Select the holiday preset and year if needed; add custom holidays.
- Run the calculation and save the scenario if supported.
Use the business day calculator to test weekend patterns before sharing dates.
Where this matters most
- Procurement lead times across regions.
- Payroll and finance cutoffs.
- Shipping and courier handoffs.
- Support SLAs in multi-region teams.
- Project milestones with global stakeholders.
- Vendor onboarding timelines.
- Compliance checks tied to local working weeks.
Common mistakes
- Assuming everyone uses Saturday and Sunday.
- Picking the wrong weekend rule for the destination country.
- Forgetting that holidays are separate from weekends.
- Not noting timezone when sharing a deadline.
- Leaving default weekends in tools when teams use Sun–Thu.
- Skipping custom holidays that combine with non-standard weekends.
- Not documenting which pattern was used for the schedule.
FAQ
What is a Sun–Thu workweek?
A schedule where Friday and Saturday are weekend days, so Sunday through Thursday are business days.
What is a Fri–Sat weekend?
Friday and Saturday are non-working days; Sunday can be a business day.
Can a weekend be one day?
Yes. You can mark only one weekday as a weekend if that matches your policy.
How do I choose the correct weekend pattern?
Match the pattern of the region or contract you are working with and document it.
Do holidays still apply if I change weekends?
Yes. Set the weekend pattern, then apply the holiday list separately.
Can I use custom weekends when subtracting business days?
Yes. Custom weekend rules work for both adding and subtracting.
Why did my date change when I switched weekend pattern?
Different weekend rules exclude different days, so counts and adjusted results move.
Is this legal or financial advice?
No. This is educational. Confirm important dates with your advisor.
Calculate business days now
Set custom weekends, load holidays, and get results without off-by-one surprises.