How to Find Difference Between Dates in Excel: Simple Methods

To find the difference between dates in Excel, simply subtract one date from another using =EndDate-StartDate. For more detailed differences like months or years, use the DATEDIF function with appropriate units such as "d" for days, "m" for months, or "y" for years.

Quick Comparison

Here is a quick comparison of common methods to find date differences in Excel:

Method	Formula Example	Output Type	Use Case	Notes
Simple Subtraction	=B2-A2	Number of days	Quick day count	Dates must be valid Excel dates
DATEDIF (Days)	=DATEDIF(A2,B2,"d")	Number of days	Exact day difference	Hidden function, no autocomplete
DATEDIF (Months)	=DATEDIF(A2,B2,"m")	Number of months	Months between dates	Ignores days
DATEDIF (Years)	=DATEDIF(A2,B2,"y")	Number of years	Years between dates	Ignores months and days
NETWORKDAYS	=NETWORKDAYS(A2,B2)	Working days count	Count weekdays only	Excludes weekends and holidays

Key Differences

The simplest way to find the difference between two dates in Excel is by subtracting one date from another using =EndDate-StartDate. This returns the number of days between the two dates as a number. It works because Excel stores dates as serial numbers internally.

For more specific calculations, Excel offers the DATEDIF function. This function can calculate differences in days, months, or years depending on the unit you specify. For example, DATEDIF(A2,B2,"m") returns the number of full months between two dates, ignoring leftover days.

Another useful function is NETWORKDAYS, which calculates the number of working days between two dates, excluding weekends and optionally holidays. This is helpful for business or project planning.

Code Comparison

Here is how to calculate the difference in days between two dates using simple subtraction in Excel:

excel

=B2-A2

Output

If A2=2024-01-01 and B2=2024-01-10, output is 9

DATEDIF Equivalent

Using DATEDIF to find the difference in days between the same two dates:

excel

=DATEDIF(A2,B2,"d")

Output

If A2=2024-01-01 and B2=2024-01-10, output is 9

When to Use Which

Choose simple subtraction =EndDate-StartDate when you need a quick count of days between dates and both cells contain valid dates. Use DATEDIF when you want more control over the units, like months or years, or need exact full units between dates. Opt for NETWORKDAYS when you want to count only working days, excluding weekends and holidays.

Key Takeaways

Subtract dates directly to get the number of days difference quickly.

Use DATEDIF for differences in months or years with specific units.

NETWORKDAYS helps count only working days between dates.

Ensure date cells are valid Excel dates for accurate results.

DATEDIF is a hidden function but very useful for detailed date differences.