What is EDATE function in Excel?
EDATE function is one of Date and Time functions in Microsoft Excel that 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 of EDATE function
EDATE(start_date, months)
The EDATE function syntax has the following arguments:
- Start_date: 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: 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.
EDATE formula explanation
- 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 of EDATE function
Steps to follow:
1. Open a new Excel worksheet.
2. Copy data in the following table below and paste it in cell A1
Note: For formulas to show results, select them, press F2 key on your keyboard and then press Enter.
You can adjust the column widths to see all the data, if need be.
| 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 |