Written and reviewed by FormulaCraft Team. Each formula on this page is run through our verification engine before publishing.
Last reviewed:
How to add days to a date in Excel and Google Sheets
Topic:Date arithmeticExcel & Google Sheets
=A2+B2Try it with your data
Edit the grid or formula, then run it through a real spreadsheet engine — no signup.
Sample data — click any cell to edit
Runs server-side · free · no signup
Step by step
- 1Enter your start date in A2 (formatted as a date) and the number of days to add in B2.
- 2In a result cell, type =A2+B2.
- 3Ensure the result cell is formatted as a date: right-click, Format Cells, Date.
- 4The formula returns the date that is exactly B2 calendar days after A2.
- 5You can also hardcode the days: =A2+30 adds exactly 30 days.
Tips
- To subtract days, simply use a negative number or subtraction: =A2-7 moves the date back by 7 days. To add business days only, use the WORKDAY function instead.
Need it for your exact data?
Describe your columns in plain English and get the precise formula for your sheet, with the right Excel or Sheets syntax.
Frequently asked
Why does my result show a large number instead of a date?
The result cell is not formatted as a date. Select the cell, go to Format Cells, and choose a Date format. The underlying number is correct — it just needs the right display format.
How is adding days different from EDATE?
Adding a number adds exact calendar days. EDATE(date, months) adds whole months and accounts for varying month lengths, which is different. Use direct addition when you need an exact day count.
More on Date arithmetic
See all →Reference
TODAY / DATEDIF
Work with the current date and measure the gap between two dates.
How-toHow to calculate age from a date of birth
Turn a birth date into an age in years with DATEDIF and TODAY. Works the same in Excel and Google Sheets.
ReferenceDATEDIF
Calculates the difference between two dates in years, months, or days using a unit code string.
How-toHow to calculate days between two dates
Subtract one date from another to get the number of days, or count working days with NETWORKDAYS. Works in both apps.
How-toHow to add months to a date
Shift a date forward or back by a number of months with EDATE — it handles month lengths correctly. Works in both apps.
How-toHow to flag overdue dates
Mark rows whose due date has passed by comparing it to TODAY() with IF. Works the same in Excel and Google Sheets.