Intro
Discover the ultimate guide to calculating months between dates in Excel. Learn 5 easy methods to find the difference in months, including using formulas, functions, and shortcuts. Master date calculations with DATEDIF, EOMONTH, and more. Say goodbye to manual calculations and boost productivity with these expert tips.
Calculating the number of months between two dates is a common task in Excel, and there are several ways to do it. In this article, we will explore five different methods to calculate the number of months between two dates in Excel.
Working with dates in Excel can be challenging, especially when it comes to calculating the number of months between two dates. This is because dates in Excel are stored as serial numbers, and there is no built-in function to calculate the number of months between two dates. However, with a few simple formulas and techniques, you can easily calculate the number of months between two dates.
Here are five ways to calculate the number of months between two dates in Excel:
Method 1: Using the DATEDIF Function
The DATEDIF function is a powerful function in Excel that can be used to calculate the number of days, months, or years between two dates. To calculate the number of months between two dates using the DATEDIF function, you can use the following formula:
=DATEDIF(start_date, end_date, "M")
Where start_date is the starting date and end_date is the ending date.
For example, if you want to calculate the number of months between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022, you can use the following formula:
=DATEDIF("1/1/2022", "12/31/2022", "M")
This formula will return 12, which is the number of months between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022.
Method 2: Using the Month and Year Functions
Another way to calculate the number of months between two dates is to use the MONTH and YEAR functions in combination. To calculate the number of months between two dates using the MONTH and YEAR functions, you can use the following formula:
=MONTH(end_date) - MONTH(start_date) + (YEAR(end_date) - YEAR(start_date)) * 12
Where start_date is the starting date and end_date is the ending date.
For example, if you want to calculate the number of months between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022, you can use the following formula:
=MONTH("12/31/2022") - MONTH("1/1/2022") + (YEAR("12/31/2022") - YEAR("1/1/2022")) * 12
This formula will return 12, which is the number of months between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022.
Method 3: Using the EOMONTH Function
The EOMONTH function is a useful function in Excel that returns the last day of the month. To calculate the number of months between two dates using the EOMONTH function, you can use the following formula:
=EOMONTH(end_date, -1) - EOMONTH(start_date, -1)
Where start_date is the starting date and end_date is the ending date.
For example, if you want to calculate the number of months between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022, you can use the following formula:
=EOMONTH("12/31/2022", -1) - EOMONTH("1/1/2022", -1)
This formula will return 11, which is the number of months between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022.
Method 4: Using the INT and DATEDIF Functions
Another way to calculate the number of months between two dates is to use the INT and DATEDIF functions in combination. To calculate the number of months between two dates using the INT and DATEDIF functions, you can use the following formula:
=INT(DATEDIF(start_date, end_date, "M"))
Where start_date is the starting date and end_date is the ending date.
For example, if you want to calculate the number of months between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022, you can use the following formula:
=INT(DATEDIF("1/1/2022", "12/31/2022", "M"))
This formula will return 12, which is the number of months between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022.
Method 5: Using a Formula with the YEAR and MONTH Functions
Another way to calculate the number of months between two dates is to use a formula with the YEAR and MONTH functions. To calculate the number of months between two dates using this formula, you can use the following formula:
=YEAR(end_date) - YEAR(start_date) * 12 + MONTH(end_date) - MONTH(start_date)
Where start_date is the starting date and end_date is the ending date.
For example, if you want to calculate the number of months between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022, you can use the following formula:
=YEAR("12/31/2022") - YEAR("1/1/2022") * 12 + MONTH("12/31/2022") - MONTH("1/1/2022")
This formula will return 12, which is the number of months between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022.
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We hope this article has helped you learn how to calculate the number of months between two dates in Excel. Whether you use the DATEDIF function, the MONTH and YEAR functions, or one of the other methods outlined above, you should now be able to calculate the number of months between two dates with ease. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to ask.