How many paychecks is semi-monthly?

24 a year: two every month on fixed dates, such as the 15th and the last day.

Which paycheck should pay rent?

The last paycheck before rent is due, usually the one at the end of the previous month.

How to Budget Twice-a-Month Pay (15th and 30th)

Semi-monthly pay lands on two fixed dates, often the 15th and the last day of the month. That's 24 paychecks a year, two in every month, with no three-paycheck months.

Split the bills

Paycheck on the 15th: bills due from the 16th to the end of the month.
Paycheck on the 30th/31st: bills due from the 1st to the 15th of the next month, including rent on the 1st.

Rent usually makes the end-of-month paycheck the tight one. If the two halves are very uneven, ask lenders to move a due date, or move a fixed amount from the 15th paycheck into the next one.

Semi-monthly vs biweekly

	Semi-monthly	Biweekly
Paychecks a year	24	26 (sometimes 27)
Paydays	Fixed dates	Every other weekday
Three-paycheck months	Never	2 or 3 a year

Quick answers

How many paychecks is semi-monthly?: 24 a year: two every month on fixed dates, such as the 15th and the last day.
Which paycheck should pay rent?: The last paycheck before rent is due, usually the one at the end of the previous month.

Let a spreadsheet do the matchingThe Paycheck Budget Spreadsheet (Google Sheets and Excel) lists every payday of the year, puts each bill on the right paycheck, and shows what's left to spend. Weekly, biweekly, twice-a-month or monthly pay. $24, pay once.
See the spreadsheet