Date
EDATE
Definition
EDATE returns the date that is a given number of months before or after a start date.
Syntax
=EDATE(start_date, months)
Arguments
| Argument | Meaning |
|---|---|
start_date |
The date to shift, or the cell holding it. |
months |
How many months to move. A positive number moves forward; a negative number moves back. |
Worked example
A lease sheet needs the date three months after each start. Start dates are in A2:A4. Format the result as a number to see the serial.
| A: Start |
|---|
| 20 Oct 2023 |
| 8 Mar 2023 |
| 4 Nov 2021 |
Formula: =EDATE(A2,3)
Result: 45311. Three months after 20 October 2023 is 20 January 2024, whose serial is 45311.
Practice
Cell A2 holds the date 15 January 2024. In B2, write a formula that returns the date one month after A2.
- In B2, write an EDATE formula that adds 1 month to A2.
- B2 should show A2 plus 1 month.
Related functions
DAY can read the day of the month from the shifted date, and TODAY supplies a start date when you want to move a number of months from today.
Common mistake
Adding 30 or 31 to a date serial instead of using EDATE: months have different lengths, so 20 October plus 31 days is not 20 November.