Leave HackerJoin the betaHow to turn 25 days of leave into 66 days off in 2027
With 25 days of annual leave and the 9 bank holidays in Scotland, you can have 66 days off in 2027 across 13 breaks, including 9 days at Early May bank holiday and 12 days at Christmas. These are the exact days to book, assuming you work Monday to Friday and your leave year starts in January.
The best value days to book
One day of leave next to a bank holiday weekend goes furthest. Book these first:
| Bank holiday | Book | Days off |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Tue 5 Jan | 5 |
| Easter | Thu 25 Mar | 4 |
| Early May bank holiday | Fri 30 Apr | 4 |
| Spring bank holiday | Fri 28 May | 4 |
| Summer bank holiday | Fri 30 Jul | 4 |
| St Andrew’s Day | Mon 29 Nov | 4 |
| Christmas | Fri 24 Dec | 5 |
The 25-day plan, break by break
13 breaks, at least two weeks apart, using 25 days of leave and every bank holiday. Total: 66 days off.
New Year’s Day: book 1 day, get 5 off
January long weekend: book 2 days, get 4 off
February long weekend: book 2 days, get 4 off
March long weekend: book 2 days, get 4 off
Easter: book 1 day, get 4 off
Early May bank holiday: book 4 days, get 9 off
Spring bank holiday: book 1 day, get 4 off
June long weekend: book 2 days, get 4 off
July long weekend: book 2 days, get 4 off
Summer bank holiday: book 1 day, get 4 off
August long weekend: book 2 days, get 4 off
St Andrew’s Day: book 1 day, get 4 off
Christmas: book 4 days, get 12 off
More or less leave?
| Days of leave | Days off | Breaks |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 57 | 11 |
| 25 | 66 | 13 |
| 28 | 73 | 15 |
| 30 | 77 | 16 |
Leave on top of the bank holidays, planned the same way: two breaks of nine days or more, the rest long weekends.
Long weekends or big trips?
| Style | Days off | Breaks |
|---|---|---|
| Mix it up two proper holidays, the rest long weekends | 66 | 13 |
| Long weekends as many three- and four-day weekends as possible | 84 | 25 |
| Big trips fewer, longer trips of nine days or more | 59 | 6 |
Long weekends score highest on paper because every Friday off brings a whole weekend with it. If you want to go somewhere, the mix gives you 2 proper breaks and still turns 25 days into 66.
How this is worked out
- A break counts every day from your first day off to your last, weekends and bank holidays included.
- Bank holiday dates are gov.uk's for Scotland. When a holiday falls at a weekend, the substitute day is used.
- Only work days in 2027 are booked. A break can run into January 2028 on free days, such as the New Year bank holiday, but never on leave from next year's allowance.
- Breaks are kept at least two weeks apart, so the year doesn't turn into one long run of Fridays.
- It's the same optimiser the Leave Hacker app uses, checked by tests against these numbers.
Questions
How many days off can I get with 25 days of annual leave in 2027?
In Scotland, 66 days off across 13 breaks, using every bank holiday. With 20 days it's 57; with 28, 73.
What's the best day to book off in 2027?
New Year’s Day: book Tue 5 Jan and you're off Friday 1 January to Tuesday 5 January 2027, 5 days for 1 day.
How do I get 9 days off at Easter 2027?
Book Mon 22 to Thu 25 Mar (4 days). You're off Saturday 20 March to Sunday 28 March 2027.
How do I get 11 days off at Christmas 2027?
Book Wed 29 to Fri 31 Dec (3 days). You're off Saturday 25 December 2027 to Tuesday 4 January 2028. More on Christmas 2027.
What if my leave year starts in April, or I don't work Monday to Friday?
The days to book change. The Leave Hacker app plans around your own leave year, whatever day it starts, and your own working days.
When should I book?
As early as your employer allows. The days around Easter and Christmas are the ones colleagues ask for too, so get the request in first.