Biweekly vs semi-monthly payroll in Canada: 26 vs 24 pay periods

How the two schedules differ

A typical biweekly calendar has 26 pay dates, usually on the same weekday. A semi-monthly calendar has 24, often on two stated dates each month. Depending on the calendar, a biweekly year can contain 27 pay dates, so check the actual schedule instead of assuming every year is identical.

CRA publishes separate deduction tables for 26-period biweekly and 24-period semi-monthly payroll, illustrated in its 2026 payroll deductions tables. Use the calculation method and period count appropriate to your actual payroll.

A $52,000 salary example

For an illustrative annual salary of $52,000, dividing across 26 equal biweekly payments gives $2,000 gross per payment. Dividing across 24 equal semi-monthly payments gives approximately $2,166.67, with rounding reconciled so the annual total stays $52,000. These are gross salary illustrations, not take-home-pay estimates.

The larger semi-monthly payment does not mean higher annual salary. There are fewer payments. A 27-pay-date year needs separate planning around salary terms and payroll configuration; do not simply add another payment to the 26-period example without checking the arrangement.

Plan hours and approval cutoffs

A two-week period can align conveniently with weekly timesheets. Semi-monthly periods vary in length, so the number of scheduled working days can change between runs. For hourly staff, calculate from approved hours and applicable pay rules instead of dividing an annual salary example.

Define three dates for each run: the end of the work period, the approval cutoff and the employee’s payday. Tell managers when hours must be approved and employees which work period appears on each statement. A clear cutoff helps prevent last-minute adjustments.

Build a funding calendar before the first run

In a typical 26-payment biweekly year, some months have three paydays. Budget for those months explicitly. Semi-monthly payroll has two scheduled paydays each month, but payment-provider cutoffs and holidays can still affect when you must send instructions.

List each payday, the planned approval date and the funding or bank-submission deadline. Confirm processing time with your bank or payment provider. Keep enough room to resolve a rejected instruction rather than assuming that approving payroll makes money arrive immediately.

Pay frequency is separate from CRA remittance frequency

Your employee pay schedule does not by itself determine your CRA remittance schedule. Check your assigned remitter type and due dates separately. The CRA employer guide describes remittance responsibilities; our remittance checklist helps organise the review.

Before choosing or changing a pay schedule, check the employment standards and employment terms that apply to your business. This comparison is a planning guide, not a statement that every employer can choose either schedule.

Frequently asked questions

Is biweekly the same as twice a month?

No. Biweekly repeats every 14 days. Twice-monthly payroll has two pay dates per calendar month.

Which schedule is cheaper to administer?

That depends on your process and provider. Per-run charges respond to the number of runs; a monthly subscription may behave differently. Compare the full calendar using our per-run versus monthly pricing guide.

How should I prepare my first schedule in PayHr?

Use the setup guide, check your supported province and review the selected frequency and dates before the first approval. Keep payment deadlines alongside the payroll calendar.

Put your next payday in order

Explore PayHr’s payroll software and Free Payroll plan, or follow the workspace setup guide.