5 Simple Ways To Calculate Months Between Two Dates In Excel

Calculating the months between two dates in Excel can be a vital skill, whether you’re managing a project timeline, calculating age, or preparing financial reports. Thankfully, Excel offers several methods to simplify this process. With a few simple formulas and techniques, you can quickly get accurate month differences. Let’s explore five of the easiest ways to calculate months between two dates in Excel!

Understanding Date Formats

Before diving into the calculation methods, it’s crucial to ensure that your dates are in a recognizable format for Excel. Excel can interpret dates in formats such as MM/DD/YYYY, DD/MM/YYYY, or YYYY-MM-DD. Here's how you can check your date format:

• Click on the cell with the date.
• Navigate to the "Home" tab and look at the "Number" section.
• Make sure it is set to "Date".

Example Dates:

Method 1: Using DATEDIF Function

The DATEDIF function is a hidden gem in Excel. It calculates the difference between two dates in terms of years, months, or days. Here's how to use it:

Step-by-Step:

1. Select your cell where you want the result.
2. Input the formula:

   =DATEDIF(A1, B1, "m")
   

   • Replace A1 with your start date cell and B1 with your end date cell.
3. Press Enter. This will give you the number of complete months between the two dates.

Example:

If A1 is 01/15/2020 and B1 is 03/10/2021, the formula will return 13 months.

<p class="pro-note">📝Pro Tip: DATEDIF is not listed in Excel’s function list, but it works perfectly!</p>

Method 2: YEARFRAC Function

The YEARFRAC function allows for calculating the fraction of the year between two dates, which you can multiply by 12 to get the months. Here's how:

Step-by-Step:

1. Select your result cell.
2. Input the formula:

   =YEARFRAC(A1, B1) * 12
   

3. Press Enter. Round down to get complete months:

   =INT(YEARFRAC(A1, B1) * 12)
   

Example:

For A1 as 06/01/2021 and B1 as 06/15/2022, this will return 12 months.

<p class="pro-note">📊Pro Tip: YEARFRAC can also help in calculating yearly metrics effectively!</p>

Method 3: MONTH Function

Using the MONTH function can also help when calculating months, as you can extract the month number from both dates. Here's how:

Step-by-Step:

1. Select your result cell.
2. Input the formula:

   =MONTH(B1) - MONTH(A1) + (YEAR(B1) - YEAR(A1)) * 12
   

Example:

If A1 is 07/01/2020 and B1 is 01/01/2022, this formula will yield 18.

<p class="pro-note">🗓️Pro Tip: This method gives you a quick calculation without needing additional functions!</p>

Method 4: Using Networkdays Function

The NETWORKDAYS function calculates the number of working days between two dates, and can be adapted for months by combining it with other functions.

Step-by-Step:

1. Choose your result cell.
2. Input the formula:

   =NETWORKDAYS(A1, B1) / 20
   

   • Divide by 20 assuming a working month averages around 20 days.

Example:

For A1 as 01/01/2021 and B1 as 04/01/2021, you may get around 3 months.

<p class="pro-note">🔢Pro Tip: Great for businesses focusing on workdays! Just adjust the divisor according to your working days per month.</p>

Method 5: Manual Calculation Using Simple Subtraction

If you're comfortable doing a bit of manual calculation, you can subtract the dates and divide by the average number of days in a month (about 30.44).

Step-by-Step:

1. Select your result cell.
2. Input the formula:

   =(B1 - A1) / 30.44
   

3. Press Enter. This will give you an approximation of the number of months.

Example:

For dates A1 as 01/01/2020 and B1 as 01/01/2021, you’ll get around 12 months.

<p class="pro-note">💡Pro Tip: This is a rough estimate and should be used when precision isn't critical!</p>

<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 in Excel?</h3> <span class="faq-toggle">+</span> </div> <div class="faq-answer"> <p>DATEDIF calculates the difference between two dates in years, months, or days.</p> </div> </div> <div class="faq-item"> <div class="faq-question"> <h3>Can I use DATEDIF to calculate partial months?</h3> <span class="faq-toggle">+</span> </div> <div class="faq-answer"> <p>No, DATEDIF only returns complete months. For partial months, consider other functions.</p> </div> </div> <div class="faq-item"> <div class="faq-question"> <h3>Is there a shortcut to calculate months quickly?</h3> <span class="faq-toggle">+</span> </div> <div class="faq-answer"> <p>Using the MONTH function in conjunction with YEAR can quickly yield results.</p> </div> </div> <div class="faq-item"> <div class="faq-question"> <h3>Can I calculate the months between two dates in VBA?</h3> <span class="faq-toggle">+</span> </div> <div class="faq-answer"> <p>Yes, you can use VBA to perform similar calculations, but the functions above are easier for most users.</p> </div> </div> <div class="faq-item"> <div class="faq-question"> <h3>Why does my formula return an error?</h3> <span class="faq-toggle">+</span> </div> <div class="faq-answer"> <p>Common reasons include incorrect date formats or syntax errors in your formulas.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div>

The above methods provide you with multiple approaches to calculate the months between two dates in Excel. Depending on your needs—whether for business analysis, project management, or just personal organization—each method has its advantages.

Using formulas like DATEDIF, YEARFRAC, or even simple subtraction can make your life much easier and save time in calculations.

<p class="pro-note">📈Pro Tip: Practice these methods to become faster in your calculations!</p>