How Many Days in a Year? (Easy Answer + Helpful Facts) Updated 2025
Answer: A common year has 365 days. A leap year has 366 days because we add February 29 to keep the calendar aligned with Earth’s orbit.
Below are simple rules, a month-by-month table, and links to our related guides on weeks, weekends, workdays, hours, and seconds.
How Many Days in a Year: The Basics
We call 365 days a common year. The true solar year—the time Earth needs to orbit the Sun—is about 365.2422 days. That small fraction is why we sometimes add a day.
Takeaway: Think of 365 as the default. The leap day keeps seasons and calendars in sync.
What Is a Leap Year and Why Add a Day?
A leap year has 366 days. The extra day (February 29) corrects the ~0.2422-day drift each year so dates stay aligned with the seasons.
Simple Leap-Year Rule
- Divisible by 4 → leap year
- Except divisible by 100 → not a leap year
- Except divisible by 400 → leap year again
Examples: 2024, 2028 are leap years; 2100 is not; 2000 was.
Takeaway: The leap-year rule is short and clear. Use it to know when a year has 365 or 366 days.
Days in Each Month (Gregorian Calendar)
Use this quick table. February has 28 days in a common year and 29 days in a leap year. For a deeper dive, see Calendar Basics: Days in Each Month.
| Month | Days (Common Year) | Days (Leap Year) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 31 | 31 |
| February | 28 | 29 |
| March | 31 | 31 |
| April | 30 | 30 |
| May | 31 | 31 |
| June | 30 | 30 |
| July | 31 | 31 |
| August | 31 | 31 |
| September | 30 | 30 |
| October | 31 | 31 |
| November | 30 | 30 |
| December | 31 | 31 |
Takeaway: Need a quick trick? See How Many Months Have 28 Days?
How Many Weeks, Hours, Minutes, and Seconds Are in a Year?
Common Year (365 days)
Leap Year (366 days)
More detail here: How Many Weeks, Hours, Minutes & Seconds Are in a Year?
Takeaway: Use the dedicated pages when you need precise numbers and examples.
How Many Workdays Are in a Year?
On a Monday–Friday schedule, start with 260 weekdays (52×5), then subtract holidays and PTO. For details and calculators, see How Many Working Days Are in a Year?
Takeaway: Start from 260, then adjust for holidays and leave.
Real-Life Examples That Use “How Many Days in a Year”
Planning & Countdowns
Track big dates with How Many Days Until…?
School & Families
See typical term lengths on How Many Days Are in a School Year? and check month lengths on Days in Each Month.
Astronomy & History
Curious why the calendar works this way? Read Why Does a Year Have 365 Days?
Weekend Planning
Balance work and rest with How Many Weekends Are in a Year?
Takeaway: Small facts make plans, budgets, and study schedules easier.
Keep Learning
- Deep dive: Leap Year
- Month lengths: Days in Each Month and How Many Months Have 28 Days?
- Time conversions: Hours in a Year and Seconds in a Year (or the combined Weeks, Hours, Minutes & Seconds page)
- Need help? About or Contact
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does a year have 365 days?
Earth’s orbit takes about 365.2422 days. Our calendar rounds to 365 and adds a leap day some years to stay aligned with the seasons. Learn more in Why Does a Year Have 365 Days?
How many days are in a leap year?
A leap year has 366 days (February 29 added). See examples and the rule on How Many Days in a Leap Year?
Is 2025 a leap year?
No. 2025 has 365 days. The next leap year after 2024 is 2028.
How many working days are in a year?
Start with 260 weekdays, then subtract holidays and PTO. Details here: How Many Working Days Are in a Year?
How many weeks, hours, minutes, and seconds are in a year?
Jump to Weeks in a Year, Hours in a Year, Minutes (combined page), and Seconds in a Year.