10 Excel Formulas To Calculate Months Between Dates

Calculating the number of months between dates can be quite tricky, especially if you're trying to do it manually. Thankfully, Microsoft Excel provides a variety of functions that make this process straightforward and efficient. Whether you're managing projects, tracking due dates, or analyzing time durations, mastering Excel formulas can save you a lot of time and effort. Let's dive into ten useful Excel formulas to calculate the months between dates, along with helpful tips, common mistakes to avoid, and troubleshooting advice. 📊

Why Use Excel for Date Calculations?

Excel is a powerful tool for handling data, and its date functions can help streamline workflows. Instead of calculating the number of months between two dates manually or using a calculator, you can utilize these formulas to automatically get the results you need.

Key Excel Formulas to Calculate Months Between Dates

Here’s a list of effective Excel formulas that can help you calculate months between dates. Each formula will be followed by a brief explanation of how it works.

1. DATEDIF Function

The DATEDIF function is one of the most efficient ways to calculate the difference between two dates. It's essential to note that this function isn't available in Excel’s formula autocomplete but still works.

Formula:

=DATEDIF(start_date, end_date, "m")

Example:

=DATEDIF(A1, B1, "m")

This will return the number of complete months between the dates in cells A1 and B1.

2. MONTH Function with YEAR Function

If you want to be more granular, you can use a combination of the MONTH and YEAR functions. This method will give you a precise count of months.

Formula:

=YEAR(end_date) * 12 + MONTH(end_date) - (YEAR(start_date) * 12 + MONTH(start_date))

Example:

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

3. NETWORKDAYS Function

Although NETWORKDAYS is typically used for counting working days, you can calculate the months indirectly by utilizing it alongside DATEDIF.

Formula:

=DATEDIF(start_date, end_date, "d")/30

Example:

=NETWORKDAYS(A1, B1)/30

4. EDATE Function

If you want to find out what date is a specific number of months after a start date, use the EDATE function.

Formula:

=EDATE(start_date, months)

Example:

=EDATE(A1, 6)

This will give you the date that is 6 months after the date in A1.

5. DATEDIF with "y" for Years and "md" for Days

Combining different units can provide detailed insights. The DATEDIF function can also calculate years and remaining days.

Formula:

=DATEDIF(start_date, end_date, "y")*12 + DATEDIF(start_date, end_date, "ym")

Example:

=DATEDIF(A1, B1, "y")*12 + DATEDIF(A1, B1, "ym")

6. Adding Months to a Date with EOMONTH

The EOMONTH function can help you find the end date of the month a certain number of months from a specified start date.

Formula:

=EOMONTH(start_date, months)

Example:

=EOMONTH(A1, 3)

7. YEARFRAC Function

The YEARFRAC function calculates the year fraction between two dates, which you can convert into months.

Formula:

=YEARFRAC(start_date, end_date) * 12

Example:

=YEARFRAC(A1, B1)*12

8. Custom Formula with TEXT

You can combine the TEXT function to format the output if you want a clear presentation.

Formula:

=TEXT(DATEDIF(start_date, end_date, "m"), "0") & " months"

Example:

=TEXT(DATEDIF(A1, B1, "m"), "0") & " months"

9. TODAY Function for Dynamic Calculations

If you're tracking how many months have passed since a specific date until today, the TODAY function can help.

Formula:

=DATEDIF(start_date, TODAY(), "m")

Example:

=DATEDIF(A1, TODAY(), "m")

10. Using IF for Conditional Calculations

If you want to calculate the difference conditionally, you can wrap your formula in an IF statement.

Formula:

=IF(B1

=IF(B1