Notification Lead Time Calculator

Enter Notice Inputs

• Receipt deadline = Required action date − Notice period days
• Prep total = Internal review days + Transit days + Buffer days
• Send-by deadline = Receipt deadline − Prep total
• Business-day mode skips weekends and listed holidays.

1. Enter the required action date from your schedule or permit.
2. Type the contract notice period and choose business or calendar days.
3. Select delivery method, then add review time and safety buffer.
4. List known holidays that should not be counted as working days.
5. Press Calculate, then export the results for your files.

Late notices can trigger rejected change requests, missed inspections, and disputed entitlement. This calculator turns clause language into dates you can schedule against, so teams can align drafting, approvals, and delivery before a milestone locks. It also highlights risk when the send-by date is close or already passed.

Business days vs calendar days in contracts

Many construction contracts define “days” differently, and the same notice period can shift by a week depending on whether weekends and holidays count. Business-day mode excludes weekends and listed holidays; calendar-day mode counts every day. Use the weekend pattern that matches the project location to avoid an accidental shortfall.

Delivery method and proof of service

Method affects transit assumptions and evidence. Email and hand delivery may be same-day, while courier and registered mail often require multiple days and tracking. If your clause treats service as effective on receipt, keep transit conservative and store the download outputs in the project correspondence log.

Buffers, approvals, and risk rating

Internal review and signature cycles can exceed the notice period on fast-track jobs. Add realistic review days, then a buffer for revisions, missing attachments, or stakeholder availability. Risk is flagged from days remaining to the send-by deadline, helping you prioritize items during weekly coordination.

Example data set

• Action date: 2026-03-15 · Notice: 10 business days · Review: 2 days
• Method: Courier (2 transit days) · Buffer: 1 day · Holidays: 2026-03-05
• Outcome: Receipt deadline moves earlier when holidays/weekends apply; send-by date shifts further back by prep total.

1) What is the difference between “send-by” and “receipt deadline”?

Receipt deadline is when the other party must receive the notice. Send-by subtracts transit, internal review, and buffer from that receipt date to give your latest practical sending date.

2) When should I choose business days?

Choose business days if your contract excludes weekends or holidays, or if the notice office is only open on working days. Add the correct weekend pattern and holidays for the project’s jurisdiction.

3) How do holidays affect the calculation?

In business-day mode, listed holidays are skipped like weekends. In calendar-day mode, holidays still count unless your clause explicitly excludes them. Add dates as YYYY-MM-DD separated by commas, spaces, or lines.

4) What if my clause says notice is effective on “dispatch”?

If effectiveness is on dispatch, set transit days to zero or minimal and rely more on internal review and buffer. Keep evidence of dispatch (email logs, courier receipts) with the exported result.

5) Why add internal review days?

Review days capture drafting, attachments, signatures, and managerial approvals. Without them, the send-by date may be optimistic and lead to rushed or incomplete notices that are easier to challenge.

6) How should I set buffer days?

Use buffers for rework, late inputs, or resubmission risk. A common practice is 1–3 days for routine notices and more for high-impact claims. Adjust based on project complexity and stakeholder response time.

7) Do the CSV and PDF include my notes?

Yes. Notes are included to help tie results to a clause, recipient, or correspondence item. This supports audit trails and consistent recordkeeping across project teams and contract administrators.