How Long Is A Fortnight? - UK Care Guide

1 March 2026

How long is a fortnight | March 2026?

A fortnight is a unit of time which is equal to14 days.

There are 52 weeks in a year and therefore there are 26 fortnights in a year.

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Where does the word fortnight originate?

Fortnight is regarded as an old English word or a British word, fēowertyne niht. 

The literal translation of this word is equal to fourteen nights.

When is the word fortnight used?

A typical use of the term fortnight is when it comes to your pay, as it can be paid on a monthly, weekly or fortnightly basis.

When is a fortnight not a fortnight?

Some countries have 15 days as a fortnight instead of 14.  This is related to how the sun rises and sets in their countries and cultures. See below for some examples.

Whilst 15 days can be a fortnight in some countries, some countries have a 13-day period to reflect a fortnight.

Here is a video where people are asked how long is a fortnight.

When would you use the term fortnight?

Typically, people would use the terms “a fortnight’s time” or “in a fortnight” to refer to something that will occur in two weeks time or 14 days’ time.

An example of the use is, “We are going on holiday to Mexico for a fortnight” or, “The next match is in a fortnight’s time”. 

What is a period of 15 days called?

A period of 15 days is also called a fortnight.

The Welsh term for Fortnight is “pythefnos“, which means 15 days and nights.

The Greek term is “dekapenthímero“.  This also means a period of 15 nights. 

In addition, mainland European countries like France, Italy, Portugal, Spain all use terms that refer to 15 days

How many fortnights are there in a year?

There are 26 fortnights in a year made up of 52 weeks.

How many hours are in a fortnight?

There are 336 hours in a fortnight made up of 14 days.

How many minutes in a fortnight?

There are 20,160 minutes in a fortnight made up of 14 days.

What is a period of 10 days called?

A 10 period can be called a decade, even though people typically refer to that as 10 years. In addition, it is often just called a 10-day period.

Meet the writer

Jessica Brown

Hello.

My names is Jessica and I am a writer on the UK Care Guide website.  

My specialist is researching and then writing about a broad range of topics.  I studied English Language and Literature at Manchester University, and a use my skills to produce articles, such as the one you are reading.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How many fortnights are there in a year?

There are 26 fortnights in a year made up of 52 weeks.

How many minutes in a fortnight?

There are 20,160 minutes in a fortnight made up of 14 days.

What is a period of 10 days called?

A 10 period can be called a decade, even though people typically refer to that as 10 years. In addition, it is often just called a 10-day period.