NETWORKDAYS

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore everything you need to know about the NETWORKDAYS function in Excel. The NETWORKDAYS function is a powerful tool that calculates the number of working days between two dates, excluding weekends and optionally, specified holidays. This function is particularly useful for project management, employee scheduling, and calculating deadlines.

NETWORKDAYS Syntax

The syntax for the NETWORKDAYS function is as follows:

=NETWORKDAYS(start_date, end_date, [holidays])

Where:

• start_date (required) – The start date of the period you want to calculate the number of working days for.
• end_date (required) – The end date of the period you want to calculate the number of working days for.
• [holidays] (optional) – A range of dates that should be excluded from the working days count, such as public holidays or company-specific non-working days. This argument should be provided as a range of cells containing the holiday dates.

NETWORKDAYS Examples

Let’s take a look at some examples of how to use the NETWORKDAYS function in Excel:

Example 1: Calculate the number of working days between two dates without holidays.

=NETWORKDAYS(“2022-01-01”, “2022-01-31”)

This formula calculates the number of working days between January 1, 2022, and January 31, 2022, without considering any holidays. The result will be 21 working days.

Example 2: Calculate the number of working days between two dates with holidays.

=NETWORKDAYS(“2022-01-01”, “2022-01-31”, A1:A3)

In this example, we have a list of holidays in cells A1 to A3. The formula calculates the number of working days between January 1, 2022, and January 31, 2022, excluding the holidays specified in the range A1:A3.

NETWORKDAYS Tips & Tricks

Here are some tips and tricks to help you get the most out of the NETWORKDAYS function:

1. When entering dates directly into the formula, use double quotes and the format “YYYY-MM-DD” to avoid errors due to regional date settings.
2. If you need to calculate the number of working days between two dates, including weekends, use the DATEDIF function instead.
3. To calculate the number of working days between two dates with custom weekends, use the NETWORKDAYS.INTL function.
4. Remember that the NETWORKDAYS function automatically excludes weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) from the calculation. If you need to include weekends, consider using a different function or a custom formula.

Common Mistakes When Using NETWORKDAYS

Here are some common mistakes users make when using the NETWORKDAYS function:

1. Forgetting to include the optional [holidays] argument when necessary, which can lead to inaccurate results.
2. Using an incorrect date format when entering dates directly into the formula, causing errors or incorrect results.
3. Not using a range of cells for the [holidays] argument, which can cause errors or unexpected results.

Why Isn’t My NETWORKDAYS Function Working?

If your NETWORKDAYS function isn’t working as expected, consider the following troubleshooting steps:

1. Check that your start_date and end_date arguments are in the correct format (“YYYY-MM-DD”) or are cell references containing valid dates.
2. Ensure that your [holidays] argument is a range of cells containing valid dates, and not a single cell or a list of dates within the formula.
3. Verify that your formula does not contain any typos or syntax errors.
4. Make sure that your date range does not include any invalid dates, such as February 30th.

NETWORKDAYS: Related Formulae

Here are some related formulae that you might find useful when working with dates and working days in Excel:

1. NETWORKDAYS.INTL: Calculates the number of working days between two dates, excluding weekends and holidays, with custom weekend parameters.
2. WORKDAY: Returns a date that is a specified number of working days before or after a given start date, excluding weekends and optionally, holidays.
3. WORKDAY.INTL: Returns a date that is a specified number of working days before or after a given start date, excluding custom weekends and optionally, holidays.
4. DATEDIF: Calculates the difference between two dates in various units, such as days, months, or years.
5. EDATE: Returns a date that is a specified number of months before or after a given start date.

With this comprehensive guide, you should now have a solid understanding of the NETWORKDAYS function in Excel and how to use it effectively in your spreadsheets. Remember to consider the tips and tricks, common mistakes, and related formulae to get the most out of this powerful function.