 | EDATE function |
Returns the serial number that represents the date that is a specified number of months before or after start_date. Use EDATE to calculate maturity dates or due dates that fall on the same day of the month as the date of issue.
Syntax
EDATE(start_date,months)
Dates should be entered by using the DATE function, or as results of other formulas or functions. For example, use =DATE(2008,5,23) for the 23rd day of May, 2008. Problems might occur if dates are entered as text.
Argument | Description | Remarks |
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start_date | A date that represents the first, or starting, date of the period. |
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months | The number of months before or after start_date. A positive value for months yields a future date; a negative value yields a past date. |
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General remarks
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Excel stores dates as sequential serial numbers so they can be used in calculations. By default, January 1, 1900 is serial number 1, and January 1, 2008 is serial number 39448 because it is 39,448 days after January 1, 1900.
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To view the serial number as a date, select the cell, and then on the View menu, click Formatting Palette. Under Number, on the Format pop-up menu, click Date.
Example
To make the following example easier to understand, you can copy the data to a blank sheet and then enter the function underneath the data. Do not select the row or column headings (1, 2, 3... A, B, C...) when you copy the sample data to a blank sheet.
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