Google Sheets Formulas
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In this article, you will learn how to utilize the EDATE formula in Google Sheets. The EDATE formula is beneficial when you need to know a date that is a specific number of months before or after a particular date.
The general formula is as follows:
Start_date: A date from which the formula computes another date based on the input in “months” defined in the following argument.
Months: The number of months that is added (if positive) or subtracted (if negative) to the “start_date”. You can input a positive or negative number or zero in this argument.
This formula is helpful when you want to compute a date particular number of months before or after another date. (e.g., five months after today or eleven months before 10/3/2022). Look at the examples in the following screenshots.
Example #1
Start_date: “10/4/2022”
Months: 5
This formula shows the date five months after 10/4/2022.
Example #2
Start_date: DATE(2022,10,4)
Months: -9
This formula shows the date nine months before 10/4/2022.
The DATE function is helpful for inputting a date correctly. Check this article to learn how to use it.
Example #3
Start_date: TODAY()
Months: -9
This formula shows the date nine months before TODAY()*.
*The date when this article was written is 10/4/2022.
This example presents that a formula is used to fill “start_date” in the first argument.
Example #4
Start_date: EOMONTH(“10/4/2022”,0) (Note: the formula left returns 10/31/2022)
Months: -3
This formula shows the date three months before 10/31/2022.
This example shows the EDATE formula containing another date-related function. The EOMONTH function helps you know the end date of a specific month. Check this article to learn how to use it.
Example #5
Start_date: C7
Months: 19
This formula shows the date nineteen months after 10/3/2022.
This example shows a case of the EDATE formula incorporating cell reference for its input.
Example #6
Start_date: C8
Months: D8
This formula shows the date four months after 10/4/2022.
This example shows another case of the EDATE formula incorporating cell reference for its input.
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If you don’t get the correct answer to your question in this article or have other questions related to date and/or time, you may find the answers in the following articles.
Formulas related to dates
DAYS Function in Google Sheets: Explained - calculate the number of days between the two dates
WORKDAY Function in Google Sheets: Explained - show the ending date based on inputs of specific starting date and the number of working days, excluding holidays
NETWORKDAYS Function in Google Sheets: Explained - calculate the number of working days between two dates, excluding holidays
EOMONTH Function in Google Sheets: Explained - understand an end date of a month
DATEVALUE Function in Google Sheets: Explained - convert a date into a serial number
YEAR Function in Google Sheets: Explained - extract the year from a given date
MONTH Function in Google Sheets: Explained - the month from a given date
DAY Function in Google Sheets: Explained - the day from a given date
DATE Function in Google Sheets: Explained - create a date value based on year, month and day input
Formulas related to time
How to Insert Current Time in Google Sheets - NOW function
You can learn about other Google Sheets formulas and tips that are not mentioned here on this page: LiveFlow‘s How to Guides
Learn how to do this step-by-step in the video below 👇
