PTO GUIDE · 2028
How to Maximize PTO in 2028
The best days to take off around every US holiday in 2028. Request the dates in the table and the weekend and the holiday do the rest. 2027 dates are one tap away below.
Best days to take off in 2028 (US)
| Holiday | Short break: take off | Days away | Full break: dates away | PTO days | Days away |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s DayFri, Dec 31, 2027 | Wed, Dec 29, 2027 & Thu, Dec 30, 2027Wed, Dec 29, 2027 – Sun, Jan 2 | 5 | Sat, Dec 25, 2027 – Sun, Jan 2Take Mon, Dec 27, 2027 – Thu, Dec 30, 2027 | 4 | 9 |
| MLK DayMon, Jan 17 | Thu, Jan 13 & Fri, Jan 14Thu, Jan 13 – Mon, Jan 17 | 5 | Sat, Jan 15 – Sun, Jan 23Take Tue, Jan 18 – Fri, Jan 21 | 4 | 9 |
| Presidents’ DayMon, Feb 21 | Thu, Feb 17 & Fri, Feb 18Thu, Feb 17 – Mon, Feb 21 | 5 | Sat, Feb 19 – Sun, Feb 27Take Tue, Feb 22 – Fri, Feb 25 | 4 | 9 |
| Memorial DayMon, May 29 | Thu, May 25 & Fri, May 26Thu, May 25 – Mon, May 29 | 5 | Sat, May 27 – Sun, Jun 4Take Tue, May 30 – Fri, Jun 2 | 4 | 9 |
| JuneteenthMon, Jun 19 | Thu, Jun 15 & Fri, Jun 16Thu, Jun 15 – Mon, Jun 19 | 5 | Sat, Jun 17 – Sun, Jun 25Take Tue, Jun 20 – Fri, Jun 23 | 4 | 9 |
| July 4thTue, Jul 4 | Fri, Jun 30 & Mon, Jul 3Fri, Jun 30 – Tue, Jul 4 | 5 | Sat, Jul 1 – Sun, Jul 9Take Mon, Jul 3 – Fri, Jul 7 | 4 | 9 |
| Labor DayMon, Sep 4 | Thu, Aug 31 & Fri, Sep 1Thu, Aug 31 – Mon, Sep 4 | 5 | Sat, Sep 2 – Sun, Sep 10Take Tue, Sep 5 – Fri, Sep 8 | 4 | 9 |
| Thanksgiving (+ day after)Thu, Nov 23 | Tue, Nov 21 & Wed, Nov 22Tue, Nov 21 – Sun, Nov 26 | 6 | Fri, Nov 17 – Sun, Nov 26Take Fri, Nov 17 – Wed, Nov 22 | 4 | 10 |
| ChristmasMon, Dec 25 | Thu, Dec 21 & Fri, Dec 22Thu, Dec 21 – Mon, Dec 25 | 5 | Sat, Dec 23 – Sun, Dec 31Take Tue, Dec 26 – Fri, Dec 29 | 4 | 9 |
Assumes a Monday–Friday week plus the holidays most US companies give, the same rules as our PTO calculator. The MLK Day, Presidents’ Day and Juneteenth rows only work if your company gives that day. The best New Year’s Day break starts Wed, Dec 29, 2027 — those PTO days come out of your 2027 allowance.
Questions
What is the best way to maximize PTO in 2028?
Put your PTO days next to weekends and paid holidays. Thu, May 25 and Fri, May 26 off before Memorial Day give you 5 days away. July 4th falls on a Tuesday, so Fri, Jun 30 and Mon, Jul 3 off give 5 days away too.
Does this work for 2027?
Yes — the table above switches to 2027, and there's a full guide for it. The same rules apply: weekends plus the holidays most US companies give. 2027 Memorial Day is Mon, May 31, so Thu, May 27 and Fri, May 28 off give 5 days away.
Which holidays does this table assume?
Weekends plus the holidays most US companies give: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas. Each row also counts that row's own holiday, so the MLK Day, Presidents' Day and Juneteenth rows assume your company gives that day.
Why do some dates fall in the year before?
New Year's Day often lands on a weekend or a Friday, so the best break starts in the last week of the year before. The best New Year’s Day break starts Wed, Dec 29, 2027 — those PTO days come out of your 2027 allowance.
What if I work weekends or get different holidays?
The table assumes a Monday to Friday week. Use the PTO calculator to choose your own company holidays, block months you can't travel and map every trip your PTO can hold. It plans this year and next.
Turn the dates into a trip
Save these windows in Days IRL to see places that fit, what they could cost and who can come.
Also planning 2027? How to maximize PTO in 2027.