Excel DATEDIF Function | Excel One Minute Quick Reference

Posted on: 10/07/2021

Need to know the number of years, months, or days between two dates? Excel's DATEDIF function will calculate it for you. This is a great function if you work in Human Resources (HR), or any job position where you need the difference in dates. I also use the TODAY function - which I recently covered in two videos and mixed and absolute reference.

DATEDIF Function in Excel — DATEDIF - find years, months, and days between two dates

YouTube Video

Syntax for DATEDIF

=DATEDIF(start_date,end_date,unit)

Units in DATEDIF

UNIT	Description
Y	The number of complete years in the period.
M	The number of complete months in the period.
D	The number of days in the period.
MD	The difference between the days in start_date and end_date. The months and years of the dates are ignored.
YM	The difference between the months in start_date and end_date. The days and years of the dates are ignored.

DATEDIF Units - Microsoft Excel — DATEDIF Units - YM is used in this example

Other Excel Articles

Excel Training for the University of Georgia's Online and Professional MBA Students

Saturday, April 5, 2025: I'll train the University of Georgia's online and professional MBA students in Microsoft Excel. Topics include PivotTables, Filtering, and even Financial Statement analysis.

Copilot in Excel - Ask Copilot Questions about Keyboard Shortcuts, Functions, and Steps

Copilot in Excel can be asked for intermediate keyboard shortcuts, how-to steps, and function explanations.

Mastering Excel Slicers: A Comprehensive Guide

Excel slicers are powerful tools that enhance data filtering in Microsoft Excel, making it easier to visualize and analyze your data. In this blog, we will explore how to create and effectively use slicers, as well as their advantages and limitations in comparison to traditional filters.

Mastering Loan Amortization: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding and Comparing Loans

In today's ever-changing financial landscape, understanding loan amortization is crucial for anyone considering a major purchase, particularly a home. With recent changes in interest rates, it's more important than ever to grasp how loan amortization works and how to compare different loan options.

Analyzing 50+ Years of Mortgage Rates in Excel: Insights and Trends

Understanding mortgage rates is crucial for anyone looking to buy a home or refinance their existing mortgage. In this comprehensive analysis, we'll dive deep into over 50 years of mortgage rate data using Microsoft Excel. We'll explore historical trends, calculate key statistics, and examine how changes in interest rates impact monthly payments.

Social Security - Breakeven point in Years using Excel

Calculate SSA breakeven in years. The break-even point represents when the cumulative benefits even out. Comparing 62 to 67, you have been collecting money for 60 months.

Chris Menard

Chris Menard is a Microsoft Trainer (MCT) and works as a full-time Trainer at BakerHostetler - one of the largest law firms in the US. Chris runs a YouTube channel with 900+ technology videos that cover various tools such as Excel, Word, Zoom, Teams, Gmail, Copilot, Google Calendar, and Outlook. To date, the channel has helped over 20 million viewers. Menard also does 2 to 3 public speaking events yearly, presenting at the Administrative Professional Conference (APC), the EA Ignite Conference, the University of Georgia, and CPA conferences. You can connect with him on LinkedIn at https://chrismenardtraining.com/linkedin or watch his videos on YouTube at https://chrismenardtraining.com/youtube.