This article describes the formula syntax and usage of the EDATE function in Microsoft Excel.
Description
Returns the serial number that represents the date that is the indicated number of months before or after a specified date (the start_date). Use EDATE to calculate maturity dates or due dates that fall on the same day of the month as the date of issue.
Syntax
EDATE(start_date, months)
The EDATE function syntax has the following arguments:
- Start_date Required. A date that represents the start date. Dates should be entered by using the DATE function, or as results of other formulas or functions. For example, use DATE(2008,5,23) for the 23rd day of May, 2008. Problems can occur if dates are entered as text.
- Months Required. The number of months before or after start_date. A positive value for months yields a future date; a negative value yields a past date.
Remarks
- Microsoft Excel stores dates as sequential serial numbers so they can be used in calculations. By default, January 1, 1900 is serial number 1, and January 1, 2008 is serial number 39448 because it is 39,448 days after January 1, 1900.
- If start_date is not a valid date, EDATE returns the #VALUE! error value.
- If months is not an integer, it is truncated.
Example
Copy the example data in the following table, and paste it in cell A1 of a new Excel worksheet. For formulas to show results, select them, press F2, and then press Enter. If you need to, you can adjust the column widths to see all the data.
| Date | ||
| 15-Jan-11 | ||
| Formula | Description | Result |
| =EDATE(A2,1) | The date, one month after the date above | 15-Feb-11 |
| =EDATE(A2,-1) | The date, one month before the date above | 15-Dec-10 |
| =EDATE(A2,2) | The date, two months after the date above | 15-Mar-11 |