2027 Payroll Calendar: Weekly, Biweekly and Semimonthly Pay Dates

By Nicole Hullihen, former SaaS Chief Operating Officer and Microsoft MVP · Updated October 18, 2026

A payroll calendar is one of the simplest tools a small business can have. It tells you when every paycheck goes out, when time cards need to be approved and which paydays land on weekends or holidays. Planning the whole year in advance prevents last-minute scrambles, late paychecks and surprise cash crunches.

2027 has an unusual quirk: it starts and ends on a Friday. That means some businesses will run an extra payroll this year. This guide lists every 2027 pay date for weekly, biweekly and semimonthly schedules, the 2027 holidays that affect payroll, how to handle paydays that fall on holidays and what the extra payday means for your budget.

Note: This calendar is a planning guide. Your payroll provider, bank and state pay frequency rules determine your actual pay dates. Many states set rules on how often employees must be paid and how quickly after a pay period ends, so check your state's requirements.

2027 at a Glance

If you aren't sure which biweekly schedule you're on, look at your last payday of 2026. If it was Friday, December 18, 2026, your next paydays are Thursday, December 31, 2026 or Friday, January 1, 2027 (schedule A). If it was Friday, December 25, 2026, or the day before because of Christmas, your next payday is Friday, January 8, 2027 (schedule B).

2027 Holidays That Affect Payroll

Banks are generally closed on Federal Reserve holidays, which can delay direct deposits. According to the Federal Reserve and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the 2027 holidays are:

The Federal Reserve notes that when a holiday falls on a Saturday, Federal Reserve Banks and Branches are open the preceding Friday. When a holiday falls on a Sunday, they are closed the following Monday. The Federal Reserve also lists Friday, December 31, 2027 as a day the Board of Governors is closed, because New Year's Day 2028 falls on a Saturday; Federal Reserve Banks follow the Saturday rule and are open. Private employers set their own holiday schedules; see business holidays 2026, 2027, 2028.

Weekly Payroll Calendar 2027 (Friday Paydays)

Weekly payroll on Fridays has 53 paydays in 2027. The first, January 1, is New Year's Day, so many employers pay on Thursday, December 31, 2026 instead.

*New Year's Day. Banks are closed, so plan to pay Thursday, December 31, 2026, or follow your payroll provider's schedule. June 18 and December 24 are Fridays when federal offices are closed for Juneteenth and Christmas observances, but Federal Reserve Banks are open; check with your bank and payroll provider.

Biweekly Payroll Calendar 2027

Schedule A: 27 Paydays

If your biweekly Friday paydays include January 1, 2027, you'll have 27 paydays this year.

If you move the January 1 payday to December 31, 2026, that paycheck is paid in 2026. Ask your payroll provider how that affects your 2026 and 2027 totals and year-end tax forms.

Schedule B: 26 Paydays

Friday, December 24 is the federal observance of Christmas. Federal Reserve Banks are open that day, but many businesses close early or for the day. Some employers pay on Thursday, December 23 so employees have their pay before the holiday.

Semimonthly Payroll Calendar 2027 (15th and Last Day)

Semimonthly payroll on the 15th and the last day of the month has 24 paydays. When a payday falls on a weekend or bank holiday, many employers pay on the previous business day. Using that rule:

Some employers pay on the next business day instead. Either way, pick one rule, write it down and follow it consistently, subject to your state's pay timing rules.

Monthly Payroll Calendar 2027 (Last Business Day)

Monthly pay isn't allowed for some employees in some states. Check your state's pay frequency rules before choosing a monthly schedule.

What the Extra Payday Means

For weekly and biweekly schedule A employers, 2027 has one more payroll than usual. That matters for a few reasons:

• Cash flow: you'll pay one extra round of wages and employer payroll taxes in 2027. Budget for it now.
• Salaried employees: if you divide an annual salary by 26 biweekly paychecks, a 27th paycheck means the employee receives more than the stated annual salary unless you adjust. Some employers divide by 27 for the year; others keep the per-paycheck amount and accept the extra cost. Decide in advance and communicate it. If you change per-paycheck amounts for exempt employees, make sure they still meet the salary level for their exemption.
• Benefit deductions: per-paycheck deductions for benefits are often based on 26 pay periods. Ask your benefits and payroll providers how they handle a 27th.
• PTO accruals: if employees accrue PTO each pay period, a 27th pay period may mean extra accrual. Check your policy. See PTO accrual explained.
• Hourly employees are paid for hours worked, so the extra payday simply reflects the calendar.

Planning Your Payroll Deadlines

A pay date is only the last step. Work backward to set deadlines for each payroll:

Holidays shorten the week, so move approval deadlines earlier in holiday weeks, especially around Thanksgiving and the end of December. See what is a pay period and the free payroll checklist.

Holiday Weeks to Watch in 2027

Choosing a Pay Frequency

Semimonthly pay periods don't line up with workweeks, so overtime must still be calculated by workweek. See what is a workweek.

Common Payroll Calendar Mistakes

• Forgetting the extra 2027 payday in the budget.
• Paying salaried employees an extra check without deciding on it in advance.
• Missing the provider's cutoff in holiday weeks.
• Inconsistent weekend and holiday rules for moving paydays.
• Ignoring state pay frequency rules.
• Late time card approvals that delay payroll.

2027 Payroll Calendar Checklist

Sharing the Calendar With Your Team

Post the 2027 payroll calendar where employees can see it and send it to managers with the time card approval deadline for each payroll. Employees appreciate knowing exactly when they'll be paid around holidays, and managers are less likely to miss approvals when deadlines are on the calendar from January.

Hit Every 2027 Payroll Deadline With Updoot

Updoot's employee time clock collects hours all period long, managers approve time cards in one place and the payroll report gives your payroll provider clean totals for regular time, overtime and PTO before every cutoff. Updoot creates the payroll report; your payroll provider processes the payroll.

Sources

• Federal Reserve: Holidays Observed by the Federal Reserve System
• U.S. OPM: Federal Holidays, 2027
• U.S. DOL: Overtime Pay

Frequently Asked Questions