5 Easy Ways To Calculate Months Between Two Dates In Excel

Calculating the number of months between two dates in Excel can seem daunting at first, but with the right formulas and techniques, it's actually quite straightforward! Whether you're tracking project timelines, calculating age, or managing billing periods, understanding how to determine the months between dates will make your work much easier. In this guide, we'll cover five easy methods to calculate months between two dates in Excel, including helpful tips and common mistakes to avoid. Let's dive in! 📅

1. Using the DATEDIF Function

One of the simplest methods to calculate the number of months between two dates is using the DATEDIF function. The DATEDIF function calculates the difference between two dates in various units (years, months, days).

Formula:

=DATEDIF(Start_Date, End_Date, "M")

Example: If you want to find out how many months there are between January 1, 2022, and March 1, 2023, you would use:

=DATEDIF("2022-01-01", "2023-03-01", "M")

This will return 14, indicating 14 full months.

2. Using YEAR and MONTH Functions

If you want to break down the calculation into a formula using YEAR and MONTH, you can do that too. This method can be handy when you want to visualize how the months are calculated.

Formula:

=(YEAR(End_Date) - YEAR(Start_Date)) * 12 + MONTH(End_Date) - MONTH(Start_Date)

Example: Calculating between June 15, 2021, and February 20, 2023, the formula would be:

=(YEAR("2023-02-20") - YEAR("2021-06-15")) * 12 + MONTH("2023-02-20") - MONTH("2021-06-15")

This will result in 20 months.

3. Using EDATE Function

The EDATE function can also help in calculating the months between two dates, especially if you want to add months to a specific date and see the corresponding date.

Formula:

=DATEDIF(Start_Date, EDATE(Start_Date, Months), "M")

Example: To see how many months are between January 1, 2021, and the date obtained by adding 14 months to the start date:

=DATEDIF("2021-01-01", EDATE("2021-01-01", 14), "M")

This will return 14, as you would expect!

4. Using Network Days with MONTHS

If you’re interested in only counting complete months excluding weekends and holidays, the combination of NETWORKDAYS and simple date functions can be useful.

Formula:

=NETWORKDAYS(Start_Date, End_Date)/(365/12)

Example: Calculating between July 1, 2021, and December 31, 2022:

=NETWORKDAYS("2021-07-01", "2022-12-31")/(365/12)

This will calculate how many actual months were worked on during this period, yielding a rounded number of 18 months.

5. Custom Calculation with TEXT Function

Finally, if you want a quick visual display of the difference in months and years, the TEXT function can help.

Formula:

=DATEDIF(Start_Date, End_Date, "Y") & " Years " & DATEDIF(Start_Date, End_Date, "YM") & " Months"

Example: For January 10, 2020, to February 5, 2023, use:

=DATEDIF("2020-01-10", "2023-02-05", "Y") & " Years " & DATEDIF("2020-01-10", "2023-02-05", "YM") & " Months"

This will output "3 Years 0 Months".

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When working with dates in Excel, certain pitfalls can lead to incorrect calculations:

• Incorrect Date Format: Ensure your dates are in a format recognized by Excel (such as YYYY-MM-DD) to prevent calculation errors.
• Exceeding Limits of DATEDIF: While DATEDIF is useful, it doesn’t always behave predictably with certain date ranges, especially if there are leap years involved.
• Relying on Old Versions of Excel: The DATEDIF function is not listed in Excel's help, and may sometimes be confusing for users who aren’t aware of its existence.

Troubleshooting Tips

• If you receive an error with DATEDIF, double-check the date formats in your cells.
• If the formula returns unexpected results, ensure that your start date is earlier than your end date.
• Use the Evaluate Formula tool in Excel to step through complex calculations and identify issues.

<div class="faq-section"> <div class="faq-container"> <h2>Frequently Asked Questions</h2> <div class="faq-item"> <div class="faq-question"> <h3>What is the DATEDIF function?</h3> <span class="faq-toggle">+</span> </div> <div class="faq-answer"> <p>The DATEDIF function calculates the difference between two dates in various units such as days, months, or years.</p> </div> </div> <div class="faq-item"> <div class="faq-question"> <h3>Can I use DATEDIF for negative date ranges?</h3> <span class="faq-toggle">+</span> </div> <div class="faq-answer"> <p>No, DATEDIF will return an error if the start date is after the end date. Make sure to always have the start date first.</p> </div> </div> <div class="faq-item"> <div class="faq-question"> <h3>What date formats are supported by Excel?</h3> <span class="faq-toggle">+</span> </div> <div class="faq-answer"> <p>Excel supports various date formats, but the most reliable is YYYY-MM-DD. Ensure that your dates follow this structure to avoid errors.</p> </div> </div> <div class="faq-item"> <div class="faq-question"> <h3>Why doesn't DATEDIF show up in the function list?</h3> <span class="faq-toggle">+</span> </div> <div class="faq-answer"> <p>The DATEDIF function is an undocumented function in Excel, meaning it doesn't appear in the formula list but is still available for use.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div>

When working with Excel, mastering how to calculate the number of months between two dates is a vital skill. By utilizing these easy methods such as DATEDIF, YEAR, MONTH, and EDATE, you’ll find yourself working more efficiently and making fewer mistakes. Remember, practice makes perfect, so take the time to explore each method in your own Excel sheets. The more you familiarize yourself with these formulas, the easier they will become.

<p class="pro-note">🌟Pro Tip: Explore Excel's various date functions to become even more proficient in data management and analysis!</p>