How to Find Days Between Two Dates in Excel – Honestly, when I first started using Excel, I thought everything would be super easy. However, I quickly realized that finding the number of days between two dates wasn’t as simple as it seemed. So, I kept trying different methods, and nothing worked the way I expected. Then, after a lot of trial and error, I finally figured it out. Now, I’m here to help you avoid all that frustration and get straight to the good stuff!
Basic Subtraction Method (The Easiest Way!)
If you want a quick and simple way to calculate days between two dates, you can just subtract them. So, here’s how it works:
- Formula:
=End_Date - Start_Date - Example:
=B2 - A2 - Pro: This method is fast and super easy to use.
- Con: Sometimes, it doesn’t work if the dates are in the wrong format.
At first, I thought this formula would always work perfectly. However, I quickly realized that if the date format wasn’t correct, Excel would give me strange results. So, I had to dig deeper and find better methods.
Using the DATEDIF Function (The Secret Formula Excel Won’t Tell You About!)
If you need a more structured function, DATEDIF is the way to go. So, let’s see how it works:
- Formula:
=DATEDIF(Start_Date, End_Date, "D") - Example:
=DATEDIF(A2, B2, "D") - Pro: This function provides clean results and also works for months (
"M") and years ("Y"). - Con: Unfortunately, Microsoft doesn’t show it in the function list.
After I discovered this formula, everything started making sense. However, I couldn’t believe that Excel didn’t mention this function anywhere. So, I felt like I had uncovered some kind of secret!
The DAYS Function (When You Want to Keep Things Simple)
If you like clear and easy-to-read formulas, DAYS is a great alternative. So, let’s break it down:
- Formula:
=DAYS(End_Date, Start_Date) - Example:
=DAYS(B2, A2) - Pro: This method works just like subtraction but is much cleaner.
- Con: Honestly, there aren’t any real downsides.
The first time I used this function, everything felt so much easier. So, I started using it whenever I needed to calculate the difference between two dates quickly.
Handling Negative Values (No More Confusion!)
If the end date comes before the start date, Excel will return a negative number. However, to avoid confusion, you can use ABS to always get a positive value:
=ABS(B2 - A2)=ABS(DAYS(B2, A2))=ABS(DATEDIF(A2, B2, "D"))
The first time I saw a negative result, I thought I had done something wrong. However, once I found out about ABS, everything became much easier.
Excluding Weekends: NETWORKDAYS Function
If you need to calculate business days only, NETWORKDAYS is perfect. So, here’s how to use it:
- Formula:
=NETWORKDAYS(Start_Date, End_Date) - Example:
=NETWORKDAYS(A2, B2) - Pro: This formula automatically removes weekends from the count.
- Con: It doesn’t consider holidays unless you specify them.
While working on a deadline, I accidentally included weekends in my calculation. So, after discovering this function, I made sure to use it whenever I needed accurate workday counts.
Custom Weekends? No Problem! Use NETWORKDAYS.INTL
If your weekends don’t follow the usual Saturday-Sunday pattern, NETWORKDAYS.INTL lets you customize them. So, here’s how:
- Formula:
=NETWORKDAYS.INTL(Start_Date, End_Date, Weekend_Code, Holiday_Range) - Example:
=NETWORKDAYS.INTL(A2, B2, 2, C2:C5) - Pro: This method works perfectly for different weekend rules.
- Con: You need to remember the weekend codes.
When I first worked with a company that had different weekend days, I had no idea how to calculate workdays properly. However, once I found this function, everything became much easier.
Fixing Date Formatting Issues
If Excel treats your dates as text, none of these formulas will work. However, here’s how you can fix the problem:
- Select the cell → Press
Ctrl + 1→ Choose “Date” - Convert text to a proper date using
=DATEVALUE(A2) - Reformat using
=TEXT(A2, "YYYY-MM-DD")
The first time I ran into this issue, I wasted so much time trying to figure out what went wrong. However, now that I know these tricks, everything runs smoothly.
Practical Uses for These Formulas
If you’re wondering when you’ll actually use these formulas, here are some real-life scenarios:
- Project Management: Calculate task durations and deadlines.
- Finance & Accounting: Find the number of days between invoice dates and due dates.
- HR & Payroll: Calculate employee tenure and leave balances.
- Academic & Research: Determine study periods or experiment durations.
Ever since I mastered these formulas, I’ve used them in so many different ways. So, I can confidently say that knowing them will make your life a whole lot easier!
Also Read: How to Curve Text in Google Docs? Here’s the Trick!
FAQs: How to Find Days Between Two Dates in Excel
1. What if my Excel formula returns an error?
- You should check if the dates are formatted correctly.
- You can try using
=DATEVALUE(A2)if Excel thinks it’s text.
2. Can I count only weekdays without using NETWORKDAYS?
- Yes! You can use
=SUMPRODUCT((WEEKDAY(ROW(INDIRECT(A2&":"&B2)),2)<6)*1)
3. How do I include holidays in the calculation?
- You can use
=NETWORKDAYS(A2, B2, Holiday_Range)
4. Why is DATEDIF not appearing in my function list?
- Microsoft doesn’t display it, but it still works if you type it manually.
5. What if I need to calculate in hours instead of days?
- You can use
=B2 - A2and change the format to “[h]:mm”
