Calculate Months Between Two Dates In Excel Easily

Calculating the number of months between two dates in Excel can be a bit tricky, but don't worry, we've got you covered. In this article, we'll show you the easiest ways to calculate months between two dates in Excel.

Why Calculate Months Between Two Dates?

Calculating the number of months between two dates can be useful in various scenarios, such as:

• Tracking project timelines and deadlines
• Calculating employee tenure or years of service
• Determining the number of months between two events or milestones
• Creating financial plans and budgets

Method 1: Using the DATEDIF Function

The DATEDIF function is a built-in Excel function that calculates the difference between two dates in a specified interval, such as days, months, or years.

Syntax: DATEDIF(start_date, end_date, unit)

• start_date is the earlier date
• end_date is the later date
• unit is the interval you want to use (e.g., "M" for months)

Example:

Suppose you want to calculate the number of months between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2022.

Start Date	End Date	Formula	Result
2020-01-01	2022-12-31	=DATEDIF(A2, B2, "M")	35

In this example, the formula =DATEDIF(A2, B2, "M") returns 35, which means there are 35 months between January 1, 2020, 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.

Syntax: =(YEAR(end_date) - YEAR(start_date)) \* 12 + MONTH(end_date) - MONTH(start_date)

• start_date is the earlier date
• end_date is the later date

Example:

Suppose you want to calculate the number of months between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2022.

Start Date	End Date	Formula	Result
2020-01-01	2022-12-31	=((YEAR(B2) - YEAR(A2)) * 12 + MONTH(B2) - MONTH(A2))	35

In this example, the formula =((YEAR(B2) - YEAR(A2)) \* 12 + MONTH(B2) - MONTH(A2)) returns 35, which means there are 35 months between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2022.

Method 3: Using a Formula with the EOMONTH Function

The EOMONTH function returns the last day of the month, which can be used to calculate the number of months between two dates.

Syntax: =(EOMONTH(end_date, 0) - EOMONTH(start_date, 0)) / 30

• start_date is the earlier date
• end_date is the later date

Example:

Suppose you want to calculate the number of months between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2022.

Start Date	End Date	Formula	Result
2020-01-01	2022-12-31	=(EOMONTH(B2, 0) - EOMONTH(A2, 0)) / 30	35

In this example, the formula =(EOMONTH(B2, 0) - EOMONTH(A2, 0)) / 30 returns 35, which means there are 35 months between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2022.

Tips and Variations

• To calculate the number of months between two dates in a specific year, you can use the YEAR function to extract the year from the dates.
• To calculate the number of months between two dates in a specific month, you can use the MONTH function to extract the month from the dates.
• You can also use the DATEDIF function to calculate the difference between two dates in other intervals, such as days or years.

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Conclusion

Calculating the number of months between two dates in Excel can be done using various methods, including the DATEDIF function, the MONTH and YEAR functions, and the EOMONTH function. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the choice of method depends on the specific requirements of your project.

We hope this article has helped you understand the different ways to calculate months between two dates in Excel. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to ask.

Share your thoughts and experiences with calculating months between two dates in Excel in the comments below.