4th of July Countdown
About this countdown
Independence Day lands on July 4 every year, and this countdown ticks toward the fireworks in navy, red and rising sparks. The timer runs in your local time zone and updates every second.
The weekends remaining counter is the barbecue-planning number — and when the 4th falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, a lot of America quietly turns it into a four-day weekend.
About 4th of July
- Date
- July 4, every year
- Also called
- Independence Day
- Type
- US federal holiday
- Observed
- United States
- Traditions
- Fireworks, parades, cookouts, flags
Independence Day commemorates July 4, 1776, when the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, proclaiming the thirteen colonies free of British rule. John Adams predicted the anniversary would be celebrated 'with pomp and parade... bonfires and illuminations' — he was right about everything except the date, having expected July 2 (the day of the vote) to be the one remembered.
Fireworks have been part of the holiday since the first anniversary in 1777, and Congress made July 4 a federal holiday in 1870. Today it's the biggest cookout day on the American calendar.
4th of July: Facts Worth Knowing
- Three of the first five US presidents — Adams, Jefferson, and Monroe — died on July 4; Adams and Jefferson died on the same day in 1826, the 50th anniversary.
- Americans set off tens of thousands of fireworks displays every Independence Day.
- The Declaration wasn't signed by most delegates until August 2, 1776.
- The Liberty Bell is tapped, not rung, thirteen times each July 4 in honor of the original states.
- July 4 cookouts make it one of the biggest hot-dog days of the year in the US.
- The table below shows which day of the week July 4 lands on for the next decade — the long-weekend calculus starts there.
Upcoming Dates: When Is 4th of July Next?
Computed automatically for the next ten years — always current, never out of date.
| Year | Date | Day of week |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | July 4 | Sunday |
| 2028 | July 4 | Tuesday |
| 2029 | July 4 | Wednesday |
| 2030 | July 4 | Thursday |
| 2031 | July 4 | Friday |
| 2032 | July 4 | Sunday |
| 2033 | July 4 | Monday |
| 2034 | July 4 | Tuesday |
| 2035 | July 4 | Wednesday |
| 2036 | July 4 | Friday |
Make it yours
Want your name on it, a different date, or a different look? Create a personalized countdown — pick from 18 themes, get a share link and embed code.
Frequently asked questions
How many days until the 4th of July?
The live counter above shows the exact days, hours, minutes and seconds until July 4 in your local time zone.
What day of the week is July 4 this year?
The upcoming-dates table below shows exactly which weekday Independence Day lands on for the next ten years — useful for planning long weekends.
Why is Independence Day on July 4?
It marks the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776.
Can I put this countdown on a big screen at my cookout?
Yes — tap Fullscreen and the countdown fills any TV or laptop screen, fireworks and all.