When working with dates in Excel, have you ever wanted to calculate a future or past workday while skipping weekends and holidays? That’s exactly what the WORKDAY function does! This powerful function is a lifesaver for project managers, HR professionals, and anyone dealing with deadlines. In this guide, I’ll break down how WORKDAY works in Excel and show you the best WORKDAY examples to make your workflows smoother.
What Is the WORKDAY Function in Excel?
The WORKDAY function calculates a date that’s a specific number of working days before or after a given start date. It automatically excludes weekends and can also skip holidays if provided.
WORKDAY Syntax
Here’s the syntax of the WORKDAY function:
=WORKDAY(start_date, days, [holidays])The arguments are:
- start_date – The initial date from which Excel counts.
- days – The number of working days to move forward or backward. Positive values go forward, negative values go backward.
- [holidays] – (Optional) A range or array of dates that should be excluded from the workdays count.
How WORKDAY Works in Excel with Examples
Basic WORKDAY Example
Let’s say I have a project that starts on June 3, 2024, and I need to complete it in 10 working days. I can use:
=WORKDAY(DATE(2024,6,3), 10)If June 3 is a Monday, Excel will count 10 working days forward, skipping weekends, and return June 17, 2024 as the result.
WORKDAY with Holidays
If there are holidays during the period, I can list them in a separate range and reference them in the formula. Let’s assume June 10 is a holiday. My formula will look like this:
=WORKDAY(DATE(2024,6,3), 10, A2:A3)Where cells A2:A3 contain the holiday dates. This ensures WORKDAY excludes both weekends and holidays.
Using WORKDAY for Deadlines
WORKDAY is great when I need to set automatic deadlines. If I need a document completed 5 working days from today, I can use:
=WORKDAY(TODAY(), 5)This formula dynamically updates every day without manual intervention.
WORKDAY vs. WORKDAY.INTL – What’s the Difference?
While WORKDAY assumes weekends fall on Saturday and Sunday, WORKDAY.INTL allows me to customize weekends. This is useful for businesses with different workweek schedules.
WORKDAY.INTL Syntax
=WORKDAY.INTL(start_date, days, [weekend], [holidays])The extra weekend argument lets me specify custom weekends, such as Friday-Saturday or Sunday only.
WORKDAY.INTL Example
Let’s say my company has Fridays and Saturdays off instead of Saturdays and Sundays. Here’s how I can compute my expected delivery date:
=WORKDAY.INTL(DATE(2024,6,3), 10, 7)The number 7 tells Excel that weekends are on Fridays and Saturdays.
Common Mistakes When Using WORKDAY
Here are some mistakes I see people make when using WORKDAY in Excel:
- Forgetting to enter a valid start date: If the date format is wrong, WORKDAY won’t work correctly.
- Not specifying holidays: You might get incorrect results if you don’t provide an updated list of holidays.
- Using negative values incorrectly: When going back in time, make sure the negative value doesn’t land on a weekend.
Use Case: Project Timeline Calculation
Let’s say I run a project that involves multiple phases, and each takes a set number of working days. Here’s a simple table showing how I can use WORKDAY to forecast project deadlines:
| Task | Start Date | Duration (Workdays) | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | 06/03/2024 | 5 | =WORKDAY(B2, C2) |
| Phase 2 | =D2 | 7 | =WORKDAY(D2, C3) |
| Phase 3 | =D3 | 10 | =WORKDAY(D3, C4) |
By setting up a table like this, I can track deadlines based on actual working days rather than simple date additions.
Final Thoughts
The Excel WORKDAY function is an invaluable tool when dealing with business days, deadlines, and project management. Whether I need to calculate due dates, forecast project timelines, or manage schedules, knowing how WORKDAY works in Excel can save me time and frustration.
Got complex workweek structures? WORKDAY.INTL has my back when I need more flexibility.
Now that I’ve walked through the best WORKDAY examples, I can confidently use this function to manage time-sensitive tasks. If you work with dates often, mastering WORKDAY will make your Excel skills even more powerful.
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How YEARFRAC works in Excel? Best YEARFRAC examples