Subtracting days from dates in PHP can be achieved by strtotime() and DateTime classes. Use strtotime() to operate directly through strings, such as date("Ymd", strtotime("-3 days", strtotime($date))); the recommended DateTime class is clearer and maintainable, supporting time zones and complex logic, such as $date->modify("-3 days") or $date->sub(new DateInterval('P3D')). Notes include: setting time zones to avoid deviations, ensuring that the date format is valid, and handling illegal date problems caused by negative values.
In PHP, if you need to subtract a few days from a date, there are several ways to do so. PHP provides flexible date handling functions, such as date()
, strtotime()
and DateTime
classes, which can be used to complete this task.

Use strtotime() to subtract the number of days
This is one of the easiest and straightforward methods, suitable for most basic scenarios.

$date = "2025-04-05"; $newDate = date("Ymd", strtotime("-3 days", strtotime($date))); echo $newDate; // Output 2025-04-02
The meaning of this code is: push forward 3 days from April 5, 2025.
Note : strtotime()
is more sensitive to formats, and it is recommended to use standard date formats (such as Ymd) to avoid parsing errors.
Common usages include:

-
-1 day
-
-7 days
- It can even be written into natural language expressions such as
last Monday
.
Use the DateTime class to operate (recommended)
If you want the code to be clearer and more maintainable, especially when it comes to complex time logic, it is recommended to use DateTime
class.
$date = new DateTime("2025-04-05"); $date->modify("-3 days"); echo $date->format("Ymd"); // Output 2025-04-02
The advantages of this method are:
- More object-oriented and clear structure
- Support time zone settings
- More complex rules can be used in combination with
DateInterval
For example, use DateInterval
:
$date = new DateTime("2025-04-05"); $date->sub(new DateInterval('P3D')); // P represents the time period, 3D represents 3 days echo $date->format("Ymd");
Notes and FAQs
Some small details are easily overlooked, but they will affect the results:
- Time zone problem : If the time zone is not explicitly set in the script, it may cause output bias. You can use
date_default_timezone_set()
to set. - Invalid date format : Some non-standard formats may cause
strtotime()
to fail parsing. - Negative value processing : After subtracting the number of days, do not forget to check whether it becomes an illegal date (for example, 2025-02-28 Subtracting 3 days will reach February 25, no problem; but if the original date is 0000-01-01, an error may occur).
Basically these methods. You can select strtotime()
or DateTime
class according to the complexity of the project to implement the "subtract days" function in PHP. Both methods can meet the needs, but the latter is more suitable for long-term maintenance and expansion.
The above is the detailed content of php subtract days from date. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

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