EDATE Function in Excel: This interesting function in Excel App returns a date that is a specified number of months before or after a given start date. To understand it, let’s say your car insurance expires 6 months from today. You can use the EDATE Function in the Excel and get to know date that is 6 months after today. By this way, you don’t have to manually calculate using the Calendar. EDATE Function in Excel specified number of months Important: The Second Argument in the EDATE Function must be only in Months and it does not accept Days. If you want to add arguments in days, then you can either use the Date or Today Function in the Excel. Important: The Second Argument in the EDATE Function must be only in Months and it does not accept Days. If you want to add arguments in days, then you can either use the Date or Today Function in the Excel. Important Date Today Objective

Value Returned by Function



Aim to get the date specified after months

EDATE Function returns a date that is a specified number of months before or after a given start date. Objective

Value Returned by Function



Aim to get the date specified after months

EDATE Function returns a date that is a specified number of months before or after a given start date. Objective

Value Returned by Function Objective Objective Value Returned by Function Value Returned by Function Aim to get the date specified after months

EDATE Function returns a date that is a specified number of months before or after a given start date. Aim to get the date specified after months Aim to get the date specified after months EDATE Function returns a date that is a specified number of months before or after a given start date. EDATE Function returns a date that is a specified number of months before or after a given start date. EDATE Function – Syntax =EDATE(start_date, months) =EDATE(start_date, months) Required Arguements Start_Date – The date you want to count from.
Months – The number of months to move forward (positive number) or backward (negative number). Start_Date – The date you want to count from. Start_Date Months – The number of months to move forward (positive number) or backward (negative number). Months positive number negative number Function Compatibility EDATE Function was introduced on 2007. From Excel 2010, it became a built-in function. If you are using older Excel Version, then you may encounter XLFN. Kindly refer to our detailed article to get to know more about XLFN. 2007 Excel 2010 get to know more about XLFN Basic Usage of EDATE Function on Excel Formula

Result

Description



=EDATE(TODAY(), 1)

14-Apr-2025

Moves 1 month forward from today (March 14, 2025)



=EDATE(TODAY(), -1)

14-Feb-2025

Moves 1 month backward from today



=EDATE("01-Jan-2025", 6)

01-Jul-2025

Moves 6 months forward from Jan 1, 2025



=EDATE(A1, 3)

Date in A1 + 3 months

Adds 3 months to the date in cell A1



=EDATE(A1, -2)

Date in A1 – 2 months

Moves 2 months back from the date in A1 Formula

Result

Description



=EDATE(TODAY(), 1)

14-Apr-2025

Moves 1 month forward from today (March 14, 2025)



=EDATE(TODAY(), -1)

14-Feb-2025

Moves 1 month backward from today



=EDATE("01-Jan-2025", 6)

01-Jul-2025

Moves 6 months forward from Jan 1, 2025



=EDATE(A1, 3)

Date in A1 + 3 months

Adds 3 months to the date in cell A1



=EDATE(A1, -2)

Date in A1 – 2 months

Moves 2 months back from the date in A1 Formula

Result

Description Formula Formula Result Result Description Description =EDATE(TODAY(), 1)

14-Apr-2025

Moves 1 month forward from today (March 14, 2025) =EDATE(TODAY(), 1) =EDATE(TODAY(), 1) 14-Apr-2025 14-Apr-2025 Moves 1 month forward from today (March 14, 2025) Moves 1 month forward from today (March 14, 2025) =EDATE(TODAY(), -1)

14-Feb-2025

Moves 1 month backward from today =EDATE(TODAY(), -1) =EDATE(TODAY(), -1) 14-Feb-2025 14-Feb-2025 Moves 1 month backward from today Moves 1 month backward from today =EDATE("01-Jan-2025", 6)

01-Jul-2025

Moves 6 months forward from Jan 1, 2025 =EDATE("01-Jan-2025", 6) =EDATE("01-Jan-2025", 6) 01-Jul-2025 01-Jul-2025 Moves 6 months forward from Jan 1, 2025 Moves 6 months forward from Jan 1, 2025 =EDATE(A1, 3)

Date in A1 + 3 months

Adds 3 months to the date in cell A1 =EDATE(A1, 3) =EDATE(A1, 3) Date in A1 + 3 months Date in A1 + 3 months Adds 3 months to the date in cell A1 Adds 3 months to the date in cell A1 =EDATE(A1, -2)

Date in A1 – 2 months

Moves 2 months back from the date in A1 =EDATE(A1, -2) =EDATE(A1, -2) Date in A1 – 2 months Date in A1 – 2 months Moves 2 months back from the date in A1 Moves 2 months back from the date in A1 Using EDATE Function with Practical Examples Example 1 (Forward Date) This Function can provide the forward and backward date as well. First, let’s start with the Forward Example. Open your Excel Application.
In the Excel Application, let’s enter the following value to understand the EDATE Function. Open your Excel Application. Excel Application In the Excel Application, let’s enter the following value to understand the EDATE Function. =EDATE(TODAY(), 6) =EDATE(TODAY(), 6) We want to get the date of 6 months from today. Let’s execute the function in the Excel. We want to get the date of 6 months from today. Let’s execute the function in the Excel. The above output can be confusing as Excel is displaying the date as a serial number. Don’t worry, it is just not in the Date Format. Kindly follow the below steps to fix this. You can also refer to our detailed article to get to know why this happens: The above output can be confusing as Excel is displaying the date as a serial number. Don’t worry, it is just not in the Date Format. Kindly follow the below steps to fix this. You can also refer to our detailed article to get to know why this happens: detailed article Fix the Date Format in the EDATE Function Go to the Home Tab in the Excel. Go to the Home Tab in the Excel. Home Under Number Format Section, select Short Date instead of General or Number. Under Number Format Section, select Short Date instead of General or Number. Number Format Short Date General Number Now, execute the EDATE Function again in a different cell.
Excel will display the proper output in the Date Format. Now, execute the EDATE Function again in a different cell. Excel will display the proper output in the Date Format. Example 2 (Backward Date) In the Excel Application, execute the following EDATE Function with specified arguments. =EDATE(TODAY(), -1). From todays’ date, we are subtracting 1 month and provide the exact date. =EDATE(TODAY(), -1) EDATE Function backward Date Output Practical Scenarios & Real World Applications of EDATE Function Scenario

Example



A loan has a fixed monthly installment, and you need to calculate the payment due dates for the next 12 months.

=EDATE(A1, 1)



A gym membership is valid for 6 months, and you want to find the expiration date.

=EDATE(A1, 6)



Employees get a salary increment every 12 months. Calculate the next increment date.

=EDATE(A1, 12)



A project phase takes 3 months to complete. Calculate the end date.

=EDATE(A1, 3)



A credit card bill is due every month. Find the next billing cycle date.

=EDATE(A1, 1)



You need to calculate a future event date, like when a report is due every quarter

=EDATE(A1, 3) Scenario

Example



A loan has a fixed monthly installment, and you need to calculate the payment due dates for the next 12 months.

=EDATE(A1, 1)



A gym membership is valid for 6 months, and you want to find the expiration date.

=EDATE(A1, 6)



Employees get a salary increment every 12 months. Calculate the next increment date.

=EDATE(A1, 12)



A project phase takes 3 months to complete. Calculate the end date.

=EDATE(A1, 3)



A credit card bill is due every month. Find the next billing cycle date.

=EDATE(A1, 1)



You need to calculate a future event date, like when a report is due every quarter

=EDATE(A1, 3) Scenario

Example Scenario Scenario Example Example A loan has a fixed monthly installment, and you need to calculate the payment due dates for the next 12 months.

=EDATE(A1, 1) A loan has a fixed monthly installment, and you need to calculate the payment due dates for the next 12 months. A loan has a fixed monthly installment, and you need to calculate the payment due dates for the next 12 months. =EDATE(A1, 1) =EDATE(A1, 1) A gym membership is valid for 6 months, and you want to find the expiration date.

=EDATE(A1, 6) A gym membership is valid for 6 months, and you want to find the expiration date. A gym membership is valid for 6 months, and you want to find the expiration date. =EDATE(A1, 6) =EDATE(A1, 6) Employees get a salary increment every 12 months. Calculate the next increment date.

=EDATE(A1, 12) Employees get a salary increment every 12 months. Calculate the next increment date. Employees get a salary increment every 12 months. Calculate the next increment date. =EDATE(A1, 12) =EDATE(A1, 12) A project phase takes 3 months to complete. Calculate the end date.

=EDATE(A1, 3) A project phase takes 3 months to complete. Calculate the end date. A project phase takes 3 months to complete. Calculate the end date. =EDATE(A1, 3) =EDATE(A1, 3) A credit card bill is due every month. Find the next billing cycle date.

=EDATE(A1, 1) A credit card bill is due every month. Find the next billing cycle date. A credit card bill is due every month. Find the next billing cycle date. =EDATE(A1, 1) =EDATE(A1, 1) You need to calculate a future event date, like when a report is due every quarter

=EDATE(A1, 3) You need to calculate a future event date, like when a report is due every quarter You need to calculate a future event date, like when a report is due every quarter =EDATE(A1, 3) =EDATE(A1, 3) EDATE Note: For the above examples, let’s assume the date is specified in the A1 Cell. Note: For the above examples, let’s assume the date is specified in the A1 Cell. Note That’s it.

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