EDATE

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

EDATE(start_date,months)

Start_date is 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 is 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.

Remarks

• 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. Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh uses a different date system as its default.
• If start_date is not a valid date, EDATE returns the #VALUE! error value.
• If months is not an integer, it is truncated.

Example

The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank worksheet.

How to copy an example

1. Create a blank workbook or worksheet.
2. Select the example in the Help topic.

   Note Do not select the row or column headers.

   Selecting an example from Help

3. Press CTRL+C.
4. In the worksheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.
5. To switch between viewing the results and viewing the formulas that return the results, press CTRL+` (grave accent), or on the Formulas tab, in the Formula Auditing group, click the Show Formulas button.

Note To view the number as a date, select the cell, and then on the Sheet tab, in the Number group, click the arrow next to Number Format, and click Short Date or Long Date.

See also:

• DATE
• Date and time functions
• EOMONTH
• NETWORKDAYS
• WORKDAY