If you’ve ever needed to calculate the difference between two dates in Excel, you’ve probably come across the DATEDIF function. This handy and somewhat hidden function is incredibly useful, yet it doesn’t appear in Excel’s formula suggestions. Let me walk you through how it works, the syntax, and the best DATEDIF examples to make the most of it.
What is the DATEDIF Function in Excel?
The DATEDIF function calculates the difference between two dates in various time units like days, months, or years. It’s an old function that originates from Lotus 1-2-3 but remains functional in all modern versions of Excel, even though it isn’t officially listed.
DATEDIF Syntax
The basic syntax of DATEDIF is as follows:
=DATEDIF(start_date, end_date, unit)start_date: The starting date (earlier date).end_date: The ending date (later date).unit: A text value that determines the type of difference to be returned.
Now, let’s break down the different units you can use.
Understanding DATEDIF Units
The unit argument defines what kind of difference will be calculated:
| Unit | Description |
|---|---|
"Y" |
Returns the number of complete years between two dates. |
"M" |
Returns the number of complete months between two dates. |
"D" |
Returns the total number of days between two dates. |
"MD" |
Returns the number of days between two dates, ignoring months and years. |
"YM" |
Returns the number of months between two dates, ignoring years. |
"YD" |
Returns the number of days between two dates, ignoring years. |
Best DATEDIF Examples
Example 1: Calculating Age in Years
One of the most common uses for DATEDIF is to calculate a person’s age from their birthdate:
=DATEDIF(A1, TODAY(), "Y")Assuming A1 contains a birthdate, this formula returns the age in whole years.
Example 2: Counting Full Months Between Two Dates
If you want to calculate how many full months exist between two dates:
=DATEDIF(A1, B1, "M")This formula is useful when you need to measure contract durations, financial periods, or project timelines.
Example 3: Getting an Exact Age in Years, Months, and Days
To get a full breakdown of age, including years, months, and days:
=DATEDIF(A1, B1, "Y") & " years, " & DATEDIF(A1, B1, "YM") & " months, " & DATEDIF(A1, B1, "MD") & " days"This formula returns a more detailed explanation of the age between two dates.
Example 4: Finding Days Remaining in a Month
To check how many days remain in the current month from a specific date:
=DATEDIF(A1, EOMONTH(A1, 0), "D")This is helpful in financial calculations where billing cycles or deadlines are important.
DATEDIF Limitations and Errors
While DATEDIF is a powerful function, it has some quirks:
- If
start_dateis greater thanend_date, the function will return a#NUM!error. - Excel does not provide built-in error checking for
DATEDIF, so there’s no automatic formula hint if arguments are incorrect. - The
"MD"unit can sometimes return unexpected results due to Excel’s internal date calculations.
How to Avoid Errors in DATEDIF
To prevent errors, you can wrap DATEDIF in an IFERROR function like this:
=IFERROR(DATEDIF(A1, B1, "Y"), "Invalid Date Range")This ensures that instead of an error message, the user sees a custom text response.
Final Thoughts
The DATEDIF function is an incredibly useful but somewhat forgotten Excel function. Whether calculating age, measuring contract durations, or tracking time between events, it’s a great tool to have in your spreadsheet arsenal. Just be cautious of its quirks, and make sure to test it thoroughly in your own workflows.
Other interesting article:
How DATE works in Excel? Best DATE examples