How to Calculate the Number of Months Between 2 Dates in Excel

How to Calculate the Number of Months Between 2 Dates in Excel

In this video I will review how to calculate the number of months between 2 dates in Excel. In order to do this you will use the DATEDIF formula in Excel. This easily and quickly uses a start date and end date and calculates the number of months between the two dates using the formula. You can use this to help during the calculation phase of building Excel dashboards. I often use the formula to build a unique list of months between the start and end date range of my original data set.

Unfortunately, you cannot simply use the subtract formula in Excel to calculate the number of months between two days but this is why the DATEDIF Formula was created. The only thing that would make this formula better is if it was not an unlisted formula in Excel. Here is the formula layout:

=DATEDIF(start date, end date, interval)

The interval signifies whether you want to know the differences in days, months or years ("D", "M", "Y").

Other Excel Date Tips and Resources

List of date and time functions in Excel:

ExcelisFun video on everything you need to know about dates:

The definitive guide to learning Excel date and time functions:

Test dates in the future or past and 10 other awesome Excel date tips:

Learn how to format numbers and dates in Excel using the text function:

Excel date formula examples from AbleBits:

Calculate the number of months between 2 dates in Excel:

Other amazing formulas you should learn in Excel:

Get your way with the date formula in Excel from Udemy:

PC world with handy tips and formulas - looks at DAY and NETWORKDAY formulas (these are great for essential every day tasks in Excel).

-~-~~-~~~-~~-~-
Checkout my newest video: "How to Use the Vlookup Formula in you Excel Dashboard"
-~-~~-~~~-~~-~-

[gerardoaguilera]

Awesome! Extremely helpful! Thank you very much!

[johnphil]

Great, , thanks for the help.

I want to calculate to bring all items in time frame: today + 4 months AND today - 4 months, Anybody have a suggestion? thanks

[real_gazda]

how to get number of months in year 1 if two dates spread through multiple years
e.g. start date July 1 2022, end date August 01 2023. I want formula to return only number of months that fall into 2022. How do I do that? Thank you!! :)

[allanjamola]

Hello, can anyone help me what is excel formula if the date will tell it is overdue in: equal or less than 3 months, greater than 3 months, greater than or equal to 6 months?

[stephyzzz]

Hi there, if my start date is 25/2/2016 and end date can i use today()
because i want to count how many months that has already expired as of till date.

[clonegamer]

if the start date is Nov-01-2023 and end date is 31-Mar-2024. this formula calculates "4 Months". The actual is "5" months