How to Use WORKDAY Formula in Excel: A User Guide
This user guide will walk you through the essentials of the WORKDAY formula in Excel, explaining its uses, syntax, and how to insert it into your spreadsheet. By the end of this guide, you'll have a solid understanding of the WORKDAY function and how it can help you streamline your project management deliverables or other data-related tasks using Excel.
What is the WORKDAY function in Excel used for?
The WORKDAY function in Excel is a versatile tool that helps calculate a date based on a specified start date, the number of working days, and optional holidays. It takes into account weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) as non-working days, allowing you to determine accurate dates for various scenarios.
Understanding the WORKDAY formula syntax in Excel
The syntax for the WORKDAY function in Excel is as follows:
- start_date: The start date defined (usually a cell reference containing the start date).
- days: The number of working days to be calculated (a positive or negative integer value).
- [holidays]: (Optional) A cell or range of cells containing the dates of holidays, which will be excluded from the working days. When this is left blank, the WORKDAY formula will only exclude non-working days, such as weekends.
When to use the WORKDAY function in Excel
Some of the key applications of the WORKDAY function include:
- Finding a data series of working days, especially when you wish to display the daily prices of a publicly traded stock.
- Calculating due dates for tasks, assignments, or invoices.
- Estimating delivery dates, considering work hours and potential holidays.
- Evaluating the number of working days available between two dates, taking holidays into account.
Inserting the WORKDAY formula in Excel
To add the WORKDAY formula into your Excel spreadsheet, follow these steps:
Step 1: Identify the cell where you want to display the result of the formula.
Step 2: Click on the selected cell and start typing the formula “=WORKDAY” and select the formula prompt that opens up.
Replace ‘start_date’ with the start date, ‘days’ with the number of working days required to be calculated, and [holidays] with the cell range containing holiday dates (if applicable).
Case 1: In the below picture, the WORKDAY function is inserted with 1 as ‘days’ but without selecting the optional [holidays]. Thus, you can see that all days excluding Saturdays and Sundays are calculated.
Case 2: In the below picture, the WORKDAY function is inserted along with selecting the optional [holidays]. Thus, you can see that all days excluding Saturdays and Sundays and 5/1/2023 (which is selected as a holiday) are calculated.
Step 3: Press the “ENTER” key to complete the formula.
Excel will now calculate and display the end date based on the input parameters.
Conclusion:
The WORKDAY function in Excel is a powerful tool for project management, allowing you to calculate deadlines and manage schedules with ease. By understanding the syntax and use cases of the WORKDAY formula, you can enhance your Excel skills and improve your overall productivity without having to manually enter dates.
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