A two-week deadline, a letter arriving on a Saturday, a public holiday in between: with deadlines, every single day matters. Anyone who objects, terminates or withdraws one day too late may have lost their rights. The good news: the German Civil Code (BGB) sets out the counting method very clearly in just a few sections. Here is how to count correctly.
Where the rules are
The interpretation rules for deadlines and dates are in §§ 187 to 193 BGB. They apply to deadlines in statutes, court orders and contracts (§ 186 BGB). The German Fiscal Code also refers to these rules for tax deadlines (§ 108(1) AO). You need to answer three questions: when does the deadline start? When does it end? And does a weekend or public holiday move the end?
1. The start: does the first day count?
Event-based period (§ 187(1) BGB): if the deadline starts with an event or a point in time during a day, that day is not counted. Typical events are receipt of a letter, service of an official notice, conclusion of a contract or delivery. This is the normal case.
Period starting at the beginning of a day (§ 187(2) BGB): if the beginning of a day is decisive, that day counts. This applies, for example, to contracts "from 1 March" and to calculating age: the day of birth counts. That is why you become a year older at the start of your birthday, not the day after.
2. The end of the deadline
Periods in days end when the last day expires, i.e. at midnight (§ 188(1) BGB). If a letter is received on Monday, 2 November 2026, and a 14-day deadline runs, counting starts on Tuesday, 3 November. The 14th day is Monday, 16 November 2026. Until that day expires, the deadline is met.
Periods in weeks and months end on the day that corresponds by name or number to the day of the event (§ 188(2) BGB). A two-week deadline after receipt on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, ends on Wednesday, 18 November 2026. A one-month deadline after receipt on 10 March ends on 10 April.
End of the month (§ 188(3) BGB): if the matching day does not exist in the last month, the deadline ends on the last day of that month. One month from 31 January 2027 ends on 28 February 2027, and in the leap year 2028 on 29 February.
For periods under § 187(2) BGB, a period of weeks, months or years ends one day earlier, namely on the day before the day that corresponds to the starting day. One year from 1 March 2027 therefore ends when 29 February 2028 expires.
| Event | Deadline | Arithmetic end | Actual end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Receipt Mon, 02/11/2026 | 14 days | Mon, 16/11/2026 | Mon, 16/11/2026 |
| Receipt Wed, 04/11/2026 | 2 weeks | Wed, 18/11/2026 | Wed, 18/11/2026 |
| Receipt Sat, 07/11/2026 | 14 days | Sat, 21/11/2026 | Mon, 23/11/2026 (§ 193 BGB) |
| Notice Sun, 31/01/2027 | 1 month | Sun, 28/02/2027 (§ 188(3) BGB) | Mon, 01/03/2027 (§ 193 BGB) |
| Receipt Thu, 13/05/2027, Bavaria | 14 days | Thu, 27/05/2027 (Corpus Christi) | Fri, 28/05/2027 (§ 193 BGB) |
| Receipt Thu, 13/05/2027, Berlin | 14 days | Thu, 27/05/2027 | Thu, 27/05/2027 |
3. Saturday, Sunday, public holiday: § 193 BGB
If a declaration of intent has to be made or a performance rendered on a certain day or within a deadline, and that day or the last day of the deadline falls on a Saturday, a Sunday or a general public holiday recognised at the place of declaration or performance, the next working day takes its place (§ 193 BGB).
Three points matter:
- Only the end moves. Weekends and holidays within the period count normally. A 14-day deadline is therefore not extended by two weekends.
- The place matters. What counts are the public holidays at the place where the declaration is to be made or the performance rendered. Corpus Christi moves a deadline in Bavaria but not in Berlin, as the table above shows.
- Not for notice periods. According to the Federal Labour Court, § 193 BGB does not apply to notice periods for terminations, because the recipient is meant to have the full period. The notice must be received in time, even if the last possible day is a Saturday. The notice period calculator works out the latest date of receipt.
Typical deadlines in everyday life
| Deadline | Length | Starts with | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Withdrawal from a consumer contract | 14 days | conclusion of the contract; for goods, receipt of the goods | § 355(2), § 356(2) BGB |
| Objection to a fine notice (traffic, administrative offences) | 2 weeks | service | § 67(1) OWiG |
| Objection to a tax assessment | 1 month | notification | § 355(1) AO |
For all three, the day of the event is not counted, and a deadline ending on a weekend or public holiday moves to the next working day. When a letter is deemed received or notified can depend on special rules in individual cases. Check this carefully for important deadlines.
How to calculate deadlines with the days calculator
- In the days calculator, choose the "Date ± days" mode.
- Enter the day of the event as the start date, e.g. the day of receipt.
- Choose the length and the unit: calendar days, weeks or months. The calculator starts counting on the following day, just like § 187(1) BGB.
- Choose your German state. If the result falls on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, the calculator shows the next working day under § 193 BGB.
For periods under § 187(2) BGB, subtract one day from the result. How many days lie between two dates is shown by the "Days between dates" mode. The basics of counting days are explained in the guide Counting the days between two dates.
Conclusion
For most deadlines, the day of the event is not counted, the end falls on the day with the same number or weekday, and if that day does not exist in the month, the last day of the month applies. A deadline ending on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday moves to the next working day, except for notice periods. To be on the safe side, act a few days before the deadline.
As of 26 October 2026. Legal basis: §§ 186 to 188, 193 BGB, § 108 AO. This article is not legal advice.