Using the
NETWORKDAYS Function and
NETWORKDAYS.INTL function
in Excel will be an ideal solution.
NETWORKDAYS Function returns the number of whole working days between start_date and end_date. Working days exclude weekends and any dates identified in holidays. Use NETWORKDAYS to calculate employee benefits that accrue based on the number of days worked during a specific term.
Tip To calculate whole workdays between two dates by using parameters to indicate which and how many days are weekend days, use the NETWORKDAYS.INTL function.
The NETWORKDAYS function syntax has the following arguments (argument: A value that provides information to an action, an event, a method, a property, a function, or a procedure.):
Start_date Required. A date that represents the start date.
End_date Required. A date that represents the end date.
Holidays Optional. An optional range of one or more dates to exclude from the working calendar, such as state and federal holidays and floating holidays.
The list can be either a range of cells that contains the dates or an array constant (array: Used to build single formulas that produce multiple results or that operate on a group of arguments that are arranged in rows and columns. An array range shares a common formula; an array constant is a group of constants used as an argument.) of the serial numbers that represent the dates.
Important 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 can occur!
Microsoft 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. Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh uses a different date system as its default.
If any argument is not a valid date, NETWORKDAYS returns the #VALUE! error value.
Example
COL A B
ROW 1 Date Description
ROW 2 10/01/2008 Start date of project
ROW 3 3/01/2009 End date of project
ROW 4 11/26/2008 Holiday
ROW 5 12/4/2008 Holiday
ROW 6 1/21/2009 Holiday
ROW 7 Formula Description (Result)
ROW 8 =NETWORKDAYS(A2,A3) Number of workdays between the start and end date above (108)
ROW 9 =NETWORKDAYS(A2,A3,A4) Number of workdays between the start and end date above, excluding the first holiday (107)
ROW 10 =NETWORKDAYS(A2,A3,A4:A6)
Notes
To convert the range of cells used for holidays in the last example into an array constant, select reference A4:A6 in the formula and then press F9.
In Excel Web App, to view the result in its proper format, select the cell, and then on the Home tab, in the Number group, click the arrow next to Number Format, and click General.