Absence Percentage Calculator
The absence percentage shows what share of working time an employee missed. Enter the days absent and the total working days in the period, and the calculator returns the absence rate, the matching attendance rate, and a quick assessment band. It is a simple HR metric for tracking absenteeism for an individual, a team or a whole company.
Formula
Absence % = (Days Absent ÷ Total Working Days) × 100
- Absence % = (days absent ÷ total working days) × 100.
- Attendance % is simply 100 minus the absence percentage.
- Use consistent working days for the period — a typical full-time year is about 250 working days.
- As a rough guide: under 2% is excellent, 2-5% good, 5-10% moderate and above 10% high.
- Count only scheduled working days; weekends, public holidays and approved leave are usually excluded.
Example Calculation
Inputs
- Days Absent: 5
- Total Working Days: 250
An employee absent 5 days out of 250 working days has an absence percentage of (5 ÷ 250) × 100 = 2%, which means 98% attendance — a good result.
Frequently asked questions
How is absence percentage calculated?
Divide the number of days absent by the total working days in the period and multiply by 100.
How many working days are in a year?
For a full-time employee it is roughly 250 days, after removing weekends and public holidays. Use your own figure for part-time or different schedules.
What is a good absence rate?
Generally under 2% is excellent, 2-5% is good, 5-10% is moderate, and above 10% is high and worth reviewing.
Should approved leave count as absence?
Usually no. Absence metrics typically focus on unplanned absence; planned holiday or approved leave is excluded or tracked separately.
Can I use it for a team or company?
Yes. Add up the days absent and the total working days across everyone in the group to get an overall absence rate.