Calculate Number of Days Between Two Dates in Excel

Have you ever needed to calculate the number of days between two dates in Excel? Whether you're tracking project timelines, calculating interest rates, or simply keeping track of important events, knowing how to calculate the day difference in Excel can be incredibly useful. In this tutorial, I'll show you how to do just that, step by step.

Getting Started

To calculate the number of days between two dates in Excel, we'll be using the DAYS function. This function takes two arguments: the end date and the start date. It then returns the number of days between the two dates.

Here's the basic syntax of the DAYS function:

=DAYS(end_date, start_date)

Now, let's dive into some examples to see how this function works in practice.

Example 1: Calculating the Number of Days Between Two Dates

Let's say we have two dates: July 15, 2023, and July 20, 2023. We want to calculate the number of days between these two dates.

1. In an empty cell, enter the following formula:

   =DAYS("2023-07-20", "2023-07-15")
   

   Note: Make sure to enclose the dates in quotation marks and use the YYYY-MM-DD format.

2. Press Enter to get the result.

   The result should be 5, indicating that there are 5 days between July 15, 2023, and July 20, 2023.

   

Example 2: Calculating the Number of Days Between Today and a Future Date

In this example, let's calculate the number of days between today's date and a future date.

1. In an empty cell, enter the following formula:

   =DAYS("2023-08-15", TODAY())
   

   The TODAY() function returns today's date.

2. Press Enter to get the result.

   The result will be the number of days between today's date and August 15, 2023.

   

Example 3: Calculating the Number of Days Between Two Dates with Cell References

In some cases, you may have the start and end dates stored in separate cells. In this example, let's calculate the number of days between two dates using cell references.

1. In cell A1, enter the start date (e.g., "2023-07-15").

2. In cell B1, enter the end date (e.g., "2023-07-20").

3. In an empty cell, enter the following formula:

   =DAYS(B1, A1)
   

   This formula calculates the number of days between the dates in cells A1 and B1.

4. Press Enter to get the result.

   The result should be the number of days between the start and end dates.

   

Related Content

• How to Calculate the Number of Months Between Two Dates in Excel
• How to Calculate the Number of Years Between Two Dates in Excel

Conclusion

Calculating the number of days between two dates in Excel is a simple and straightforward process. By using the DAYS function, you can easily determine the day difference and incorporate it into your spreadsheets. Whether you're working with fixed dates or cell references, Excel provides a powerful tool for date calculations.

I hope this tutorial has been helpful in showing you how to calculate the number of days between two dates in Excel. If you have any further questions or need additional assistance, feel free to reach out to me at contact@formularizer.com or visit our website at https://formularizer.com.

Happy Excel-ing!