Date & Time

DAYS Function in Excel

Returns the number of days between two dates.

Syntax

  • =DAYS(end_date, start_date)

Arguments

  • end_date (required): End date
  • start_date (required): Start date

Examples

  • =DAYS("12/31/2024", "1/1/2024") - Days in 2024 - Result: 365

Excel DAYS function documentation

  • DAYS returns the number of days between two dates as end_date minus start_date.
  • Syntax: =DAYS(end_date, start_date). Useful for invoice aging, SLAs, and delivery tracking.
  • Use DAYS with [DATE](/functions/date/) to avoid ambiguous text-date inputs.
  • Category reference: [/categories/date-time/](/categories/date-time/).

DAYS syntax and sign behavior

  • end_date and start_date are both required for a valid result.
  • A positive result means end_date is after start_date; negative means the opposite.
  • DAYS counts calendar days and includes leap-day effects automatically.
  • Invalid text dates or mixed locale formats can return #VALUE!.

Step-by-step: calculate aging buckets

  • Step 1 - Put invoice date in A2 and payment date or TODAY() in B2.
  • Step 2 - Use =DAYS(B2,A2) in C2 for age in days.
  • Step 3 - Add bucket logic: =IF(C2>60,"60+",IF(C2>30,"31-60","0-30")).
  • Step 4 - Build a pivot table to summarize open balances by bucket.

DAYS vs subtraction vs DATEDIF

  • DAYS is explicit and readable for day differences in dashboards.
  • Direct subtraction (end-start) returns the same value with shorter syntax.
  • DATEDIF is better when you need months or years, not only day count.
  • Format with [TEXT](/functions/text/) only for labels, not numeric logic.

Worked examples to copy

  • Basic gap: =DAYS("2026-12-31","2026-01-01").
  • From cells: =DAYS(B2,A2).
  • Days until due date: =DAYS(due_date,TODAY()).
  • Absolute difference: =ABS(DAYS(B2,A2)).

People also ask

  • Does DAYS count weekends? - Yes, it counts all calendar days.
  • Can DAYS return negatives? - Yes, when end_date is earlier than start_date.
  • DAYS vs NETWORKDAYS? - NETWORKDAYS excludes weekends and optional holidays.
  • Why #VALUE! in DAYS? - One or both arguments are not valid dates.

Common errors

  • Order matters: end_date - start_date

Use cases

  • Duration calculations
  • Age calculations
  • Project timelines

Frequently asked questions

  • What is the difference between DAYS and simple subtraction? DAYS(end, start) is equivalent to end - start for dates. The main advantage of DAYS is clarity - it's obvious you're calculating days. Also, DAYS can convert text dates automatically, while subtraction might not.
  • How do I calculate days including both start and end dates? DAYS counts the difference, excluding the start date. To include both dates, add 1: =DAYS(end, start) + 1. For a 3-day event from Jan 1-3, DAYS returns 2, but adding 1 gives 3 days total.
  • How do I calculate days remaining until a deadline? Use =DAYS(deadline, TODAY()) for calendar days remaining. For working days, use =NETWORKDAYS(TODAY(), deadline). Negative result means the deadline has passed.

Editorial review

  • Reviewed by Excel.Directory Editorial Team. Updated May 2026.

When to use DAYS

  • Duration calculations — common Date & Time scenario for DAYS.
  • Age calculations — common Date & Time scenario for DAYS.
  • Project timelines — common Date & Time scenario for DAYS.

DAYS in the Date & Time category

  • Browse all Date & Time functions at /categories/date-time/ for related formulas.
  • DAYS syntax: =DAYS(end_date, start_date)
  • end_date (required): End date
  • start_date (required): Start date
  • Confirm DAYS arguments match the syntax shown above before filling down.
  • Lock table and range references with $ when copying formulas across rows or sheets.

Formula checklist before you copy down

  • Confirm DAYS arguments match the syntax shown above before filling down.
  • Lock table and range references with $ when copying formulas across rows or sheets.
  • If results look wrong, check for text stored as numbers and invisible spaces with TRIM.
  • Spot-check three known input rows manually against expected output.

Related Excel functions

  • DATEDIF (/functions/datedif/): Calculates the number of days, months, or years between two dates.
  • NETWORKDAYS (/functions/networkdays/): Returns the number of whole working days between two dates, excluding weekends and holidays.
  • DAYS360 (/functions/days360/): Returns the number of days between two dates based on a 360-day year.

Errors to watch for

  • Order matters: end_date - start_date — review causes on linked error pages in the directory.

Copy-paste audit workflow

  • Enter DAYS on three test rows with known expected output documented on a QA tab.
  • Fill down only after absolute references are locked on lookup tables and rate tables.
  • Compare against manual calculation or a calculator for financial and statistical functions.
  • Search this directory for comparison guides when choosing between similar functions in the same category.

DAYS worked examples to copy

  • =DAYS("12/31/2024", "1/1/2024") — Days in 2024. Expected result: 365.

DAYS reference summary for crawlers and offline review

  • DAYS belongs to the Date & Time category in Excel. Returns the number of days between two dates.
  • Full syntax: =DAYS(end_date, start_date). Open /functions/days/ for parameters, FAQs, and related pages.
  • Common mistakes: Order matters: end_date - start_date
  • Pair this function with comparison guides when another Excel formula might fit the same task better.
  • Review fix-excel-formula-errors when unexpected errors appear after upgrading Excel or sharing across locales.