Written and reviewed by FormulaCraft Team. Each formula on this page is run through our verification engine before publishing.
Last reviewed:
How to calculate the months between two dates in Excel and Google Sheets
Topic:Date arithmeticExcel & Google Sheets
=DATEDIF(A2,B2,"M")Try 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 the start date in A2 and the end date in B2, both formatted as dates.
- 2In an empty cell, enter =DATEDIF(A2,B2,"M").
- 3The "M" unit returns the number of complete months (partial months are not counted).
- 4For fractional months, use =(B2-A2)/30.44 as an approximation.
- 5Press Enter to see the result.
Tips
- DATEDIF requires the start date to be less than or equal to the end date. If dates could be in either order, use =DATEDIF(MIN(A2,B2),MAX(A2,B2),"M").
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
What is the difference between DATEDIF "M" and "YM"?
"M" returns total complete months between the two dates. "YM" returns only the months portion after subtracting complete years, useful for displaying '2 years and 5 months'.
Is there a MONTHS function in Excel?
Excel does not have a standalone MONTHS function. Use DATEDIF(start,end,"M") or the formula =(YEAR(B2)-YEAR(A2))*12+MONTH(B2)-MONTH(A2) for a simpler alternative.
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.