Excel: calculate date difference

With the new version of Microsoft Office, Excel 2013 was also equipped with new functions - for example, the date difference can be calculated using the day function. Find out how it's done here.

Calculate the date difference using the day function in Excel

To be able to calculate the date difference between different days in Excel, you only need the "day command" (English: DAYS) and the two dates to be used for the calculation. And that's how it works:

1. Start by entering the command "= DAYS" (in the English version: "= DAYS") in the desired Excel field.
2. Then enter the "target date" in brackets, then the "start date". So the complete command looks like this: = DAYS ("03/31/2013"; "03/21/2013")
3. If you already have a calendar in the Excel file, you can use the field names instead of the data. In this case your command could look like this: = DAYS (A85; A75)

If Excel gives you a negative result (for example -10), you have exchanged the "target date" with the "starting date". This was tested under Windows 7 (64-bit) with Microsoft Office 2013.