# How to add business days to a date in Excel

Use `=WORKDAY(start, days, holidays)`. It skips Saturdays, Sundays and every date in the holiday list.

**Excel:** `=WORKDAY(B2,C2,$F$2:$F$4)` (Every current version)

**Google Sheets:** the same formula works.

## Example

Sample data (row 1 is the header):

| A | B | C | D | E | F |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ticket | Opened | SLA (business days) | Due |  | Holidays |
| T-881 | 2026-11-20 | 5 |  |  | 2026-11-26 |
| T-882 | 2026-11-24 | 2 |  |  | 2026-11-27 |
| T-883 | 2026-12-18 | 5 |  |  | 2026-12-25 |
| T-884 | 2026-12-02 | 10 |  |  |  |
| T-885 | 2026-11-06 | 1 |  |  |  |

Formula in D2, filled to D6: `=WORKDAY(B2,C2,$F$2:$F$4)`

Result: 12/1/2026; 11/30/2026; 12/28/2026; 12/16/2026; 11/9/2026

## How it works

WORKDAY counts forward the given number of working days, skipping weekends and any date in the holiday list. The start date itself isn't counted: a ticket opened on Friday, November 20 with a 5-day SLA is due Tuesday, December 1, because Thanksgiving and the day after are holidays.

## Other ways

- `=WORKDAY(B2,C2)`: Without a holiday list, only weekends are skipped. (Treats holidays as working days.)

## Common mistakes

- WORKDAY doesn't count the start date. If the start date is day 1, use `=WORKDAY(B2,C2-1,$F$2:$F$4)`.
- For another weekend, such as Friday and Saturday, use WORKDAY.INTL with a weekend code.
- Lock the holiday range with $ so it stays put when the formula is filled down.

## Questions

**How do I go back a number of business days?**

Use a negative number: `=WORKDAY(B2,-5,$F$2:$F$4)`.

**How do I count the business days between two dates?**

Use NETWORKDAYS, which counts both ends: `=NETWORKDAYS(B2,D2,$F$2:$F$4)`.

Every formula and result on this page was checked by running it in the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine on 2026-10-30.

Source: https://spreadsheetpractice.com/formulas/add-business-days-to-a-date