Guides
UK deadline guides
In-depth guides covering FOI, SAR, notice period, cooling-off, and business day deadlines — with worked examples, step-by-step instructions, and references to UK legislation.
All guides
FOI 20 Working Days Explained
How to count the 20 working day FOI response deadline under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, including when the clock starts, extensions, and EIR differences.
FOIFOI Due Date Calculator UK Guide
How to calculate an FOI due date using a calculator, with detailed rules on clock start, public interest extensions, and clarification pauses.
SARSubject Access Request Time Limit UK
Guide to the one calendar month SAR deadline under UK GDPR, including ID verification pauses, complex request extensions, and common mistakes.
Notice periodHow to Work Out Notice Period UK
Employment and tenancy notice periods: the difference between 4 weeks and 1 month, statutory minimum notice, and month-end edge cases.
Notice periodNotice Period Calculator GOV Alternative
Why there is no official GOV.UK notice calculator, and how to use independent tools to calculate notice dates accurately.
Cooling-offWhen Does a Cooling-Off Period Start?
The 14 day cooling-off period under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013: start dates for goods, services, and digital content, plus exemptions.
ComparisonDeadline Calculator vs Calendar Reminder
When to calculate a deadline and when to set a reminder: the best workflow for FOI, SAR, notice, and complaint deadlines.
SpreadsheetsExcel WORKDAY Formula
How to use WORKDAY, WORKDAY.INTL, NETWORKDAYS, and NETWORKDAYS.INTL to calculate UK business days with bank holiday exclusions.
SpreadsheetsGoogle Sheets Business Days Formula
Using WORKDAY and NETWORKDAYS in Google Sheets for UK deadline tracking, with locale tips and holiday list setup.
Which guide should I start with?
| Your question | Start here |
|---|---|
| How long do I have to respond to an FOI request? | FOI 20 Working Days Explained |
| How do I use the FOI calculator to get the right date? | FOI Due Date Calculator UK Guide |
| What is the deadline for answering a subject access request? | Subject Access Request Time Limit UK |
| How do I work out when my notice period ends? | How to Work Out Notice Period UK |
| Is there a GOV.UK notice period calculator? | Notice Period Calculator GOV Alternative |
| When can I cancel an online purchase? | When Does a Cooling-Off Period Start? |
| Should I use a calculator or a calendar reminder? | Deadline Calculator vs Calendar Reminder |
| How do I use Excel for UK working day calculations? | Excel WORKDAY Formula |
| How do I calculate business days in Google Sheets? | Google Sheets Business Days Formula |
How the guides are structured
Each guide follows the same pattern so you can find what you need quickly:
- Quick answer — the core rule in one or two sentences, with a link to the relevant legislation.
- Worked example — a table showing a real date worked through step by step, so you can see exactly how the rule applies.
- Detailed explanation — the full legal and regulatory context, including exceptions, extensions, and edge cases.
- Step-by-step instructions — practical numbered steps you can follow to calculate your own deadline.
- Key takeaways — the most important points in a bullet list, for quick reference.
- References — links to the official legislation, regulator guidance, and GOV.UK pages so you can verify the rules yourself.
Disclaimer
Important: The guides on this site are planning aids, not legal advice. Deadlines can depend on specific facts, policy wording, jurisdiction, service rules, pauses, extensions, and changes in law. Always verify important deadlines with the official guidance, your organisation’s legal team, or a qualified adviser.
Related tools
While each guide links to the most relevant calculator, here is a quick reference to the most-used tools on this site:
- FOI Deadline Calculator UK — calculate the 20 working day FOI response date with optional public interest extensions.
- Subject Access Request Deadline Calculator — work out the one calendar month SAR deadline under UK GDPR.
- Notice Period Calculator UK — calculate notice end dates in days, weeks, or months for employment and tenancy.
- 14 Day Cooling-Off Period Calculator — check your cancellation deadline under the Consumer Contracts Regulations.
- Complaint Response Deadline Calculator — calculate FCA, NHS, and standard complaint response dates.
- 10 Business Days From Today — quick business day arithmetic with UK bank holiday exclusions.
All calculators run in your browser and use the current year’s UK bank holiday list. No registration, no data collection.