The DATEDIF function in Excel is a useful tool for calculating the difference between two dates in a variety of units. Despite its popularity and usefulness, DATEDIF is not listed in the Formula tab of the Excel Ribbon, nor is it included in the Help files. Nevertheless, you can use the DATEDIF function by typing it in manually or copying it from the internet.
The DATEDIF function has three arguments: start date, end date, and unit. The first two arguments are required, and the third argument is optional. The start date is the earlier of the two dates you want to compare, and the end date is the later. The unit argument specifies the unit of time you want to use to measure the difference between the two dates.
Here is the syntax of the DATEDIF function:
=DATEDIF(start_date, end_date, unit)
The unit argument can be any of the following:
- "y" - Returns the number of complete years between the start date and the end date.
- "m" - Returns the number of complete months between the start date and the end date.
- "d" - Returns the number of days between the start date and the end date.
- "yd" - Returns the number of days between the start date and the end date, ignoring years and months.
- "md" - Returns the number of days between the start date and the end date, ignoring years.
- "ym" - Returns the number of complete months between the start date and the end date, ignoring years.
- "y"m" - Returns the number of months between the start date and the end date, as if they were a series of 12 months.
To use the DATEDIF function, follow these steps:
- Open a new or existing Excel worksheet and type the start date in one cell and the end date in another cell.
- Decide which unit of time you want to use to measure the difference between the two dates. For example, if you want to calculate the number of years between the two dates, you would use the "y" unit.
- Type the DATEDIF function in another cell. The first argument of the function should be the cell containing the start date, the second argument should be the cell containing the end date, and the third argument should be the unit of time you want to use. For example, if the start date is in cell A1, the end date is in cell A2, and you want to calculate the number of years between the two dates, you would type the following formula in another cell:
=DATEDIF(A1,A2,"y")
- Press Enter to calculate the result. The cell with the formula should now display the number of years between the two dates.
Note that the DATEDIF function does not provide a fractional result. For example, if the start date is January 1, 2021, and the end date is December 31, 2021, the number of months between the two dates is 11, not 11.5. If you want to calculate a fractional result, you will need to use a different function or formula.
Also, note that the DATEDIF function is not available in all versions of Excel. If you receive an error message when you try to use the function, it may not be supported by your version of Excel. In that case, you will need to use a different function or formula to calculate the difference between two dates.
In conclusion, the DATEDIF function in Excel is a versatile tool that can help you calculate the difference between two dates in a variety of units. By following the steps outlined above, you can use the function to quickly and easily calculate the number of years, months, or days between two
dates. Additionally, by using the different unit arguments available in the function, you can calculate the difference between the two dates in a way that is specific to your needs.
Some practical examples of using the DATEDIF function in Excel include:
- Calculating the length of service of an employee: Suppose you have the date of joining and the current date of an employee, and you want to calculate the number of years they have been working in the company. You can use the DATEDIF function with the "y" unit argument to get the result.
- Calculating the age of a person: If you have a person's birth date and the current date, you can use the DATEDIF function with the "y" unit argument to calculate their age in years.
- Calculating the number of days until a deadline: Suppose you have a project deadline and the current date, and you want to know how many days are left until the deadline. You can use the DATEDIF function with the "d" unit argument to get the result.
In addition to the above examples, the DATEDIF function can be useful in many other situations where you need to calculate the difference between two dates. However, it's important to keep in mind that the function has some limitations, such as the lack of support for fractional results, and may not be available in all versions of Excel.
In conclusion, the DATEDIF function is a useful tool for calculating the difference between two dates in Excel. By using the function with the appropriate unit argument, you can get a result that is specific to your needs. While the function has some limitations, it can be a valuable addition to your Excel toolkit for date-related calculations.