DATEDIF Formula Generator (2026) — Calculate Date Difference | Free Excel & Sheets

Calculates the number of days, months, or years between two dates.

Generated Formula
=DATEDIF(start_date, end_date, "Y")

Learning Resources

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Common Errors & Fixes

  • #NUM! error

    Causes:
    • Start date is later than end date. DATEDIF does not handle reversed dates.
    Fixes:
    • Use =IF(start > end, -DATEDIF(end, start, unit), DATEDIF(start, end, unit)) for signed results, or swap the arguments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is DATEDIF not showing up in my Excel?

DATEDIF is a hidden function in modern Excel. It still works but does not appear in the formula autocomplete. Type =DATEDIF( manually and it will work.

What DATEDIF units are available?

"Y" for complete years, "M" for complete months, "D" for days, "YM" for months ignoring years, "YD" for days ignoring years, and "MD" for days ignoring months and years.

Does DATEDIF work in Google Sheets?

Yes, DATEDIF works in Google Sheets with the same syntax. All unit types (Y, M, D, YM, YD, MD) are supported.

Related Formulas

NOWTODAYNETWORKDAYSYEARMONTH

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