In the U.S., full-time usually means 35 to 40 hours a week, set by the employer. The Fair Labor Standards Act does not define full-time or part-time work; two federal programs use their own thresholds — 30 hours a week for the Affordable Care Act and 35 hours for labor statistics.
| Rule | Full-time means | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| FLSA (U.S. Department of Labor) | Not defined — the employer decides | Overtime is about hours over 40 in a workweek, not full-time status |
| Affordable Care Act (IRS) | At least 30 hours of service a week, or 130 hours a month | Employer health coverage requirements |
| Bureau of Labor Statistics | Usually 35 or more hours a week | Employment statistics |
| Common employer practice | 35–40 hours a week | Benefits and schedules |
2,000 working hours in 2026
- Days worked
- 250
- Federal holidays off
- 11
- Days in the year
- 365
| Month | Workdays | Holidays | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20 | 2 | 160 |
| February | 19 | 1 | 152 |
| March | 22 | 0 | 176 |
| April | 22 | 0 | 176 |
| May | 20 | 1 | 160 |
| June | 21 | 1 | 168 |
| July | 22 | 1 | 176 |
| August | 21 | 0 | 168 |
| September | 21 | 1 | 168 |
| October | 21 | 1 | 168 |
| November | 19 | 2 | 152 |
| December | 22 | 1 | 176 |
| Year | 250 | 11 | 2,000 |
How it’s calculated
Working hours = (workdays in the year − federal holidays that fall on workdays − days off) × hours per day. The “standard” 2,080 hours is 40 hours × 52 weeks: it counts holidays and vacation as paid hours, so actual hours worked are lower.
Worked example with your numbers
- Workdays in 2026 (Monday–Friday): 261.
- Minus federal holidays on those days (observed dates): 11 → 250 days.
- Days worked: 250.
- 250 days × 8 hours = 2,000 working hours.
Holidays are the U.S. federal holidays on their observed dates. Private employers set their own holiday schedules.
Official sources
Full-time hours in a week, month and year
- 40 hours a week = 173.33 hours a month = 2,080 hours a year.
- 35 hours a week = 151.67 hours a month = 1,820 hours a year.
- 30 hours a week = 130 hours a month = 1,560 hours a year.
Sources: U.S. DOL — Full-time employment; IRS — Identifying full-time employees; BLS — CPS definitions.
Frequently asked questions
Is 32 hours full-time?
It can be: employers decide. Under the ACA, 30 or more hours a week counts as full-time for health coverage rules.
Is 40 hours full-time?
Yes — 40 hours is the standard full-time week, and under the FLSA hours beyond 40 in a workweek are overtime for non-exempt employees.
How many hours is part-time?
There is no federal definition. Fewer than 35 hours a week is part-time in BLS statistics; fewer than 30 under the ACA.