Does this include bank holidays?

No. It excludes weekends only, so check the calendar for public holidays in your nation and subtract them.

When do buyers stop answering questions?

Usually several working days before the deadline, and the cut off is stated in the tender documents. Check it first.

What if the deadline is extended?

Extensions are published as a notice amendment. Re-run the dates and keep the earlier internal milestones anyway.

Free tender toolkit

Tender Deadline Calculator

Pick the submission deadline and see how many working days you actually have, along with sensible internal milestones. Most missed tenders are lost to a portal upload at 4pm on the day, not to a weak answer.

Submission deadline

Working days left: 20
Ask clarifications by: 15 Oct 2026
Internal review by: 21 Oct 2026

Target upload date: 23 Oct 2026. Weekends are excluded, bank holidays are not, so check the calendar for your nation.

Estimate only, not financial or regulatory advice. This is an estimate only, provided for general guidance. It is not tax, accounting, financial or legal advice. Check any figures with a qualified professional before relying on them.

How it works

Working days are counted from today to the deadline, excluding Saturdays and Sundays.
The clarification deadline is set at roughly the two thirds point, because buyers stop answering questions well before the close.
An internal review date is set three working days before the deadline to leave time for corrections.
A submission target is set one working day early, so portal problems are not fatal.

Worked UK example

A notice published today with a deadline 20 working days away.

Working days available: 20.
Ask clarification questions by working day 13.
Internal review complete by working day 17.
Upload by working day 19.

A schedule that leaves a full working day of contingency before the buyer's clock runs out.

Understanding your result

Working days are the honest unit for bid planning, because calendar countdowns hide weekends and bank holidays. If the count is under about ten working days and you have not started, be realistic about whether a rushed submission helps or harms your reputation with that buyer.

Frequently asked questions

Does this include bank holidays?: No. It excludes weekends only, so check the calendar for public holidays in your nation and subtract them.
When do buyers stop answering questions?: Usually several working days before the deadline, and the cut off is stated in the tender documents. Check it first.
What if the deadline is extended?: Extensions are published as a notice amendment. Re-run the dates and keep the earlier internal milestones anyway.

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