Summary
The Excel WORKDAY function calculates a future or past date by skipping weekends and optionally skipping specified holidays. It’s useful for determining due dates or completion dates in a work environment.
Syntax
=WORKDAY(start_date, days, [holidays])
- start_date: The date from which to start counting.
- days: The number of workdays to add or subtract.
- holidays: [Optional] A list of dates to exclude from the count.
Return value
A serial number representing the calculated date in Excel.
How to use
The WORKDAY function computes a date that is a specific number of working days away from a start date. A positive ‘days’ value calculates a future date, while a negative value calculates a past date. ‘Holidays’ are optional and can be provided as a range of dates that should be skipped in the calculation. The function automatically excludes Saturdays and Sundays.
Examples
Simple WORKDAY
Calculating Future Due Date:
=WORKDAY("2021-01-01", 10, A2:A5)
Assuming A2:A5 contains holidays, this formula calculates the date 10 working days from January 1, 2021, excluding weekends and the listed holidays.
WORKDAY with Holidays
Calculating Delivery Date with Holidays:
=WORKDAY("2021-01-01", 10, A2:A5)
Assuming A2:A5 contains holidays, this formula calculates the date 10 working days from January 1, 2021, excluding weekends and the listed holidays.
WORKDAY for Past Date
Determining Past Date for Work Completion:
=WORKDAY("2021-01-15", -5)
Finds the date 5 working days before January 15, 2021, excluding weekends.
Additional Notes
- The WORKDAY function excludes the start date in the count.
- If you need to customize weekend days, consider using the WORKDAY.INTL function.
- Useful for project planning, logistics, or any scenario where business days are a factor in scheduling.