


How to use the DATEDIF function in Excel to calculate the difference between two dates
Aug 03, 2025 am 12:58 AMThe DATEDIF
function in Excel is a hidden but powerful tool for calculating the difference between two dates in terms of years, months, or days. Despite not appearing in the function list or formula autocomplete, it works reliably in all modern versions of Excel.

Basic Syntax of DATEDIF
=DATEDIF(start_date, end_date, unit)
- start_date: The earlier date.
- end_date: The later date.
- unit: A text code that specifies the type of information you want returned.
Available Units and What They Return
Unit | Meaning | Returns |
---|---|---|
"Y" | Complete years | Number of complete years between the dates |
"M" | Complete months | Number of complete months between the dates |
"D" | Days | Total number of days between the dates |
"MD" | Day difference, ignoring months and years | Days between the dates, assuming both dates are in the same month and year |
"YM" | Month difference, ignoring years and days | Months between the dates, assuming both are in the same year |
"YD" | Day difference, ignoring years | Days between the dates, assuming both are in the same year |
?? Note: Use double quotes around the unit argument.
Practical Examples
Let’s say:

- Start date (A1):
01/15/2010
- End date (B1):
03/20/2025
1. Calculate Full Years Between Two Dates
=DATEDIF(A1, B1, "Y")
Result: 15
(15 full years from Jan 15, 2010 to Jan 15, 2025)
2. Calculate Full Months Beyond Full Years
=DATEDIF(A1, B1, "YM")
Result: 2
(2 full months from Jan 15 to Mar 15 in 2025)

3. Calculate Remaining Days Beyond Full Months
=DATEDIF(A1, B1, "MD")
Result: 5
(5 days from March 15 to March 20)
4. Total Age in Years, Months, and Days
To get a complete breakdown:
=DATEDIF(A1,B1,"Y") & " years, " & DATEDIF(A1,B1,"YM") & " months, " & DATEDIF(A1,B1,"MD") & " days"
Result: 15 years, 2 months, 5 days
This is commonly used for calculating a person’s age or project duration.
Common Use Cases
- Employee tenure: How many full years and months someone has worked.
- Age calculation: From birthdate to today.
- Project timelines: Duration between start and end dates.
- Loan periods: Time between disbursement and maturity.
Tip: Use TODAY()
for dynamic end dates:
=DATEDIF(A1, TODAY(), "Y")
This gives the person's current age if A1 contains their birthdate.
Important Notes and Warnings
-
Hidden Function: Excel doesn’t suggest
DATEDIF
in the formula bar, but it still works. -
Incorrect Results with "MD": In rare cases (e.g., when the start date is the 31st and the next month has fewer days),
"MD"
may return unexpected results. Always test edge cases. -
End Date Must Be Later: If
end_date
is earlier thanstart_date
, you’ll get a#NUM!
error. - Invalid Dates: Ensure both inputs are valid Excel date values, not text.
Alternative Functions (When DATEDIF Isn't Preferred)
If you're uncomfortable using a "hidden" function, you can use combinations of:
-
YEARFRAC
to estimate years between dates. - Manual day counts:
B1 - A1
gives total days. -
YEAR()
,MONTH()
,DAY()
functions with logic (but more complex).
However, DATEDIF
remains the most accurate for complete year/month calculations.
In short, DATEDIF
is reliable and widely used for date differences in human-readable formats — just remember the correct units and always validate your results with sample data.基本上就這些。
The above is the detailed content of How to use the DATEDIF function in Excel to calculate the difference between two dates. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

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