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EDATE function - Add and subtract months to a specified date in Excel

EDATE function: The function that adds (subtracts) months on a specified date. Use this function to calculate the due date that matches the release date in the month. Syntax: EDATE (start_date, months)

Author: Lesley Montoya2 minutes read

The following article introduces you to the EDATE function - one of the functions in the date and time group function is very popular in Excel.

images 1 of EDATE function - Add and subtract months to a specified date in Excel

Description: The function performs addition (subtraction) of the month on the specified date. Use this function to calculate the due date that matches the release date in the month.

Syntax: EDATE (start_date, months)

Inside:

- start_date: The date represents the start date to add or subtract month values.

- months: The number of months to be added to start_date, the following cases:

+ months> 0 -> Create new days in the future.

+ months <0 -> Create new date in the past.

Attention:

- Excel stores the date as a serial number to facilitate the calculation process.

- If the start_date value is  not a valid date -> the function returns the #VALUE! Error value

- Where the value moths is not an integer -> it is truncated to an integer.

For example:

Calculate the value of the day after adding or subtracting 1 month value in the table below:

images 1 of EDATE function - Add and subtract months to a specified date in Excel

- In the cell to calculate enter the formula: = EDATE (E7, F7).

images 1 of EDATE function - Add and subtract months to a specified date in Excel

- Press Enter -> days after 1/1/2011 1 month is:

images 1 of EDATE function - Add and subtract months to a specified date in Excel

- Similarly copying the formula for the remaining values ​​results:

images 1 of EDATE function - Add and subtract months to a specified date in Excel

- Where the value of months is not an integer -> it is truncated to an integer.

images 1 of EDATE function - Add and subtract months to a specified date in Excel

The above are instructions and some specific examples when working with EDATE function in Excel.

Good luck!

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