How many days until a date: Christmas, New Year, your birthday
“How many days until Christmas” is one of the most searched questions of the year. The answer changes every day, so any number in an article is out of date by tomorrow morning. Instead of a number, here is a method that gets you the answer in thirty seconds, plus a table that never goes stale.
Method 1. The day-of-year number
Every date has a number within its year: January 1 is day 1 and December 31 is day 365 (day 366 in a leap year). Know today’s number and the target’s number, and the rest is subtraction. Here is the number of the first day of each month:
| Date | Day of year | In a leap year |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | 1 | 1 |
| February 1 | 32 | 32 |
| March 1 | 60 | 61 |
| April 1 | 91 | 92 |
| May 1 | 121 | 122 |
| June 1 | 152 | 153 |
| July 1 | 182 | 183 |
| August 1 | 213 | 214 |
| September 1 | 244 | 245 |
| October 1 | 274 | 275 |
| November 1 | 305 | 306 |
| December 1 | 335 | 336 |
Any date’s number = the number of the 1st of its month + (the day − 1). For example, October 27: 274 + 26 = day 300.
Until Christmas
December 25 is day 359 (day 360 in a leap year). Days until Christmas = 359 − today’s number. On October 27, 2026 that is 359 − 300 = 59 days. If Christmas has already passed, count the days to New Year’s Day and add 358 (or 359 if the coming year is a leap year).
Until New Year’s Day
Days until January 1 of next year = 366 − today’s number (367 − the number in a leap year). On October 27, 2026: 366 − 300 = 66 days until January 1, 2027, and 65 until New Year’s Eve.
Until your birthday
Look up your birthday’s day number in the table. If it is bigger than today’s, the difference is your answer. If it is smaller, your birthday has already passed this year: count the days to New Year’s Day and add your birthday’s number minus one. Mind the leap year if your birthday is after February 28.
Method 2. A date difference in a spreadsheet
In Excel or Google Sheets, =DATE(2026,12,25)-TODAY() gives the days until Christmas 2026. More formulas, and whether to include both end dates, are in how to count the days between two dates.
Method 3. A countdown on your screen
If you want the number every day rather than once — until a trip, a wedding, an exam, payday — a countdown that updates itself is easier.
Temfy: Countdown Days & Widget has ready-made templates — birthday, vacation, wedding, exam, payday — or any event of your own. The countdown runs to the second, and repeating events (birthdays, payday) roll over to the next year or month by themselves. A Home Screen widget shows what is coming up; on iPhone there is also a Lock Screen widget and a Live Activity when the event is close. A reminder arrives at the moment of the event or ahead of it — an hour, a day or a week before. The app is free for iPhone and Android.
Let the days count themselves
Temfy: Countdown Days & Widget shows how long until an event and how long since a big day, down to the second. Widgets, reminders, habit streaks and milestones. Free for iPhone and Android.