How To Use: DATEDIF Function

DATEDIF Function calculates the number of days, months, or years between two dates. The DATEDIF function is provided in order to support older workbooks from Lotus 1-2-3. It may calculate incorrect results under certain scenarios.

In simple terms, the DATEDIF function returns the difference between two date values for a specified interval.

DATEDIF is an inbuilt function in Excel. It is under the category of Date and Time Functions. The DATEDIF is one of the very few undocumented functions of Excel. Being undocumented means, you cannot find it in the formula list.

As a worksheet function, you can enter the DATEDIF Function as a part of a formula in a cell of a worksheet.

This function can be used when we want to calculate the number of years, months, or days between the two dates. A perfect example of it is calculating the age.

Syntax for DATEDIF Function

DATEDIF(start_date,end_date,unit)

Arguments

Start_Date: A date that represents the first, or starting, date of the period. Dates can be entered as text strings within quotation marks or as serial numbers or as the results of other formulas or functions.

End_Date: A date that represents the last, or ending, date of the period.

Units: The type of information that you want returned. Units can be any of the following:

Y = Difference in complete years
M = Difference in complete months
D = Difference in days
MD = Difference in days, ignoring months and years
YM = Difference in months, ignoring days and years
YD = Difference in days, ignoring years.

We have created the infographics for the DATEDIF Function. With the help of these infographics, you can easily learn step by step process for using this excel functions.

Furthermore, Excel consists of many inbuilt functions which are helpful in the analytical and statistical study of number.

Simply follow the instructions in the infographics below:

Errors

#VALUE! error occurs when the supplied arguments are non numeric.

#NUM! error occurs when units are numneric and other than the accepted alphabatical criteia.

To learn other function like MID, QUOTIENT and KURT Functions, please click on the name of the function.

Additionally, you can download other accounting templates like Break Even Analysis Template, Salary Sheet Template and Invoice with GST Template from here.

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