How to use it
- See the days left until Christmas Day.
- Switch to Christmas Eve if that's your big day.
- Optionally pick a different start date.
- Check weeks, weekends and the start of Advent.
Christmas countdown
The page shows the number of days from today until December 25, and a live countdown of days, hours, minutes and seconds to midnight at the start of Christmas Day. If your family celebrates on Christmas Eve, switch to December 24.
Once Christmas has passed, the countdown automatically switches to next year. On Christmas Day itself, you'll see a holiday greeting instead.
Weeks, weekends and Advent
Below the main number you'll find:
- In weeks: the days left converted to weeks and days, handy for planning shopping and travel.
- Weekends left: how many Saturdays fall between today and Christmas, useful for decorating, baking and holiday parties.
- First Sunday of Advent: the fourth Sunday before Christmas, which is when many families light the first Advent candle and start Advent calendars. It falls between November 27 and December 3.
Counting from another date
Want to know how many days there will be from Thanksgiving, from the first of December, or from your last day of school? Pick a start date and the calculator counts from there instead of today.
Example: from Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 26, 2026, there are 29 days until Christmas Day.
Holiday planning checklist
| Time left | Good time to |
|---|---|
| 8–10 weeks | book holiday travel, plan your budget |
| 6 weeks | order personalized gifts and photo cards |
| 4 weeks | start Advent, put up decorations |
| 2–3 weeks | mail cards and packages, check carrier holiday deadlines |
| 1 week | wrap gifts, plan the menu, shop for groceries |
More countdowns
Counting down to New Year's Eve, a birthday or a vacation instead? Create any countdown with the countdown to a date tool and share it with a link. To count days between any two dates, use the date calculator. The countdown uses your device's clock and runs in your browser.
Christmas facts
- Christmas Day, December 25, is a federal holiday in the U.S.; if it falls on a Saturday, the federal holiday is observed on Friday, December 24, and if on a Sunday, on Monday, December 26.
- In 2026, Christmas Day falls on a Friday, and in 2027 on a Saturday.
- The 12 days of Christmas run from December 25 to January 5, with Epiphany on January 6.
Frequently asked questions
How many days until Christmas?
The number at the top of the page shows the days from today until December 25, updated live.
How many weeks until Christmas?
See the "In weeks" box, which converts the days left into weeks and days.
When does Advent start?
On the fourth Sunday before Christmas, between November 27 and December 3. The page shows the exact date for this year.
Is the countdown to Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
Christmas Day (December 25) by default. Switch to December 24 for Christmas Eve.
How many sleeps until Christmas?
The number of sleeps equals the number of days left until Christmas Day.
Last updated: November 12, 2026