Notice Period Calculator Germany (§ 622 BGB)
With six years of service, an employer who gives notice on 10 March 2026 ends the employment on Sunday, 31 May 2026 (2 months to the end of a month). Enter your dates for your own result.
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How it works
Choose who gives notice, enter the day employment started and the day the notice is received. The calculator counts the full years of service, picks the statutory period and finds the earliest last day of employment.
For an employee, or an employer in the first two years, the period is four weeks and the last day is the next 15th or month-end. For an employer after two years it is a number of months, ending on a month-end. In an agreed probation period of up to six months, two weeks apply.
Rules and worked example
Last day = the first allowed end date on or after the end of the notice period. The notice period is counted from the day after receipt.
For an employer in March 2026 with employment since 2020 (six full years, so 2 months):
- Full years of service: 6
- Notice period in months: 2
- Last day of employment: Sunday, 31 May 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the statutory notice period in Germany?
Four weeks to the 15th or the end of a calendar month. This is the basic period for employees at any time and for employers in the first two years. Employers must give longer notice after two years of service.
How long is the employer's notice period?
It grows with years of service, always to the end of a calendar month — 1 month after 2 years, 2 months after 5, 3 after 8, 4 after 10, 5 after 12, 6 after 15 and 7 months after 20 years.
Does the employee's notice period get longer too?
Not by law. The employee keeps the basic period of four weeks, although a contract or collective agreement can set a longer one, which then must not be longer for the employee than for the employer.
What applies during probation?
During an agreed probation period of up to six months, either side can give two weeks' notice, ending on any day.
From when does the notice count?
From the day after the other side receives it. If the notice arrives on Tuesday 10 March, a two-week period ends at the end of Tuesday 24 March.
Does time before age 25 count?
Yes. The law's sentence that ignores service before 25 is not applied, because the European Court of Justice found it discriminates on age.
Can the contract or a collective agreement change this?
Yes. A collective agreement can set other periods, and small businesses with up to 20 employees can agree a shorter basic period with an employee, not below four weeks. This calculator shows the statutory periods only.
Sources and methodology
- § 622 BGB — Kündigungsfristen bei Arbeitsverhältnissen (accessed 2026-10-21)
- § 187 BGB — Fristbeginn (accessed 2026-10-21)
- CJEU C-555/07 Küçükdeveci (19 Jan 2010) — service before age 25 must count (§ 622 (2) sentence 2 BGB is not applied) (accessed 2026-10-21)
- § 188 BGB — Fristende (accessed 2026-10-21)
Last updated 2026-10-21. Calculator version 1.0.0.Read how we calculate for our verification process.
Results are estimates for information only and are not financial, tax or legal advice.