Excel: Formula to Calculate Number of Years Between Dates

 Last reviewed: November 29, 1994
Article ID: Q34319
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 1.x, 2.2, 3.0, 4.0

SUMMARY

To find the number of whole years between two dates, use the following formula 

   =YEAR(date2)-YEAR(date1)-IF(MONTH(date2)<MONTH(date1),1,
    IF(MONTH(date2)=MONTH(date1),IF(DAY(date2)<DAY(date1),1)))
where "date2" is the later date and "date1" is the earlier. For example, to find the number of whole years a person is, the formula would be 

   =YEAR(NOW())-YEAR(birthdate)-IF(MONTH(NOW())<MONTH(birthdate),1,
    IF(MONTH(NOW())=MONTH(birthdate),IF(DAY(NOW())<DAY(birthdate),1)))
where "birthdate" is a cell with the date of birth.

You can also use the following formula to calculate the number of years between a date and today: 

   =INT((TODAY()-A1)/365.25)
Use the following formula to calculate the number of Years and Months 

   =INT((TODAY()-A1)/365.25)&" Y    "
   &INT(MOD((TODAY()-A1)/365.25,1)*12)&" M"

MORE INFORMATION

Do not enter a date in mm/dd/yy format (as in 1/1/60) into the formula because that will be calculated as 1 divided by 1 divided by 60. To use the date in the formula without referencing a cell, use the DATE(year,month,day) function.

KBCategory: kbusage
KBSubcategory:

Additional words: 1.0 1.00 1.03 1.04 1.06 1.5 1.50 2.2
2.20 3.0 3.00 4.0 4.00

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Last reviewed: November 29, 1994
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