How Long Is 3-5 Business Days From Today?
3-5 business days from today means your delivery lands between — and —. Business days skip Saturdays and Sundays, so the actual calendar time depends on where in the week you are.
This is the most common shipping promise in US e-commerce, and the default estimate for things like check-clearing, routine processing, and standard-class postal delivery. Here's a heads-up most people miss: if you order on a Friday, day 1 is Monday, not Saturday. Most businesses don't count the order day itself, and the clock stops on weekends.
The Full Breakdown
Why Business Days Feel Longer Than You Expect
If today is a Thursday and a retailer says "ships in 3-5 business days", you won't see it until the following Tuesday-Thursday — a 5-9 calendar-day window. This is because Saturday and Sunday don't count, and the order day itself often doesn't count either.
One more thing worth knowing: federal holidays usually aren't counted as business days in shipping contexts. If a Monday holiday falls inside your window, add another day.