How Many Biweekly Pay Periods Are in a Year?

A biweekly pay period is a payroll schedule where employees receive their wages once every two weeks. Understanding the number of biweekly pay periods in a year is important for both employers managing payroll and employees planning their finances.

The Standard Number of Pay Periods

There are 26 biweekly pay periods within a standard year. A standard year has 52 weeks, resulting in 26 pay periods. Employees usually receive two paychecks per month, with two months containing an additional, third paycheck. This consistent 14-day interval offers predictability, assisting employees with budgeting and managing expenses. For employers, this frequency balances administrative effort with providing employees regular access to their earnings.

Understanding the 27th Pay Period

While 26 is the standard, some years can have a 27th biweekly pay period. This occurs because a calendar year contains 365 days, which is not perfectly divisible by 14 days. The extra day or two each year accumulates, leading to an additional pay period approximately every 11 years. Leap years, which add an extra day to February, can also contribute to this phenomenon by shifting alignment.

The occurrence of a 27th pay period depends on the specific day the pay cycle begins and its alignment with the calendar year. For example, if January 1st falls on a particular weekday and the pay schedule consistently pays on that day every two weeks, it can result in 27 paydays. When this happens, employers of salaried employees may need to adjust the per-pay-period amount to ensure the annual salary remains consistent, or pay an additional full paycheck. This can impact benefit deductions and tax withholdings.

Comparing Pay Frequencies

Beyond biweekly, other common pay frequencies exist. Employees paid weekly receive 52 paychecks per year, as they are paid once every seven days. This frequency is often found in industries with many hourly workers, such as construction or manufacturing.

Another common schedule is semi-monthly, where employees are paid twice a month on fixed dates. This results in 24 pay periods annually and is distinct from biweekly pay because payment intervals can vary slightly. Monthly pay, the least frequent option, involves 12 pay periods per year, with employees receiving one paycheck each month. Each frequency offers different considerations for employers and employees in terms of cash flow management and administrative processing.