Biweekly pay
3-Paycheck Months in 2026
If you are paid every other Friday, your 3-paycheck months in 2026 are January, July and December (cycle A, first payday Friday, January 2, 2026) or May and October (cycle B, first payday Friday, January 9, 2026). Paid on another weekday? Find your first 2026 payday below.
Every biweekly cycle
Find the row with your first payday of 2026. Paydays on a weekend or bank holiday are counted on the business day before.
| First payday | Paydays | 3-paycheck months | Jan to Dec |
|---|---|---|---|
| ThursdayJan 1, 2026 | 26 | July and December | |
| FridayJan 2, 2026 | 27 | January, July and December | |
| MondayJan 5, 2026 | 26 | March and August | |
| TuesdayJan 6, 2026 | 26 | March and September | |
| WednesdayJan 7, 2026 | 26 | April and September | |
| ThursdayJan 8, 2026 | 26 | April and October | |
| FridayJan 9, 2026 | 26 | May and October | |
| MondayJan 12, 2026 | 26 | June and November | |
| TuesdayJan 13, 2026 | 26 | June and December | |
| WednesdayJan 14, 2026 | 26 | July and December |
5-paycheck months, weekly pay
| Payday | Paydays | 5-paycheck months |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 52 | March, June, August and November |
| Tuesday | 52 | March, June, September and December |
| Wednesday | 52 | April, July, September and December |
| Thursday | 52 | April, July, October and December |
| Friday | 53 | January, May, July, October and December |
See the calendars
Questions
Which months have 3 paychecks in 2026?
For a biweekly Friday payroll: January, July and December on cycle A (first payday Jan 2, 2026), or May and October on cycle B (first payday Jan 9, 2026). Other weekdays are in the table on this page.
How many 3-paycheck months are there in 2026?
Two on every biweekly cycle that pays 26 times, three on a cycle that pays 27 times. In 2026: Thursday from Jan 1, 2026: 2; Friday from Jan 2, 2026: 3; Monday from Jan 5, 2026: 2; Tuesday from Jan 6, 2026: 2; Wednesday from Jan 7, 2026: 2; Thursday from Jan 8, 2026: 2; Friday from Jan 9, 2026: 2; Monday from Jan 12, 2026: 2; Tuesday from Jan 13, 2026: 2; Wednesday from Jan 14, 2026: 2.
Why do some months have 3 paychecks?
A biweekly payroll pays every 14 days, 26 or 27 times a year, but a year has only 12 months with room for 24 paydays at two a month. The extra two or three paydays land in months with three.
Are there 5-paycheck months in 2026 for weekly pay?
Yes. Paid weekly on Fridays: January, May, July, October and December.