How to compare two dates and flag late deliveries in Excel

Q: How do I calculate days late, with 0 for early deliveries?

Use MAX: =IF(C2="","",MAX(0,C2-B2)).

Q: How do I count late deliveries?

Compare the columns row by row: =SUMPRODUCT((C2:C7<>"")*(C2:C7>B2:B7)).

Formula (Excel and Google Sheets)

=IF(C2="","Not delivered",IF(C2>B2,"Late","On time"))

Check for a missing date first, then compare: =IF(C2="","Not delivered",IF(C2>B2,"Late","On time")).

Result on the example: one result per row in D2, filled down to D7
Works in: Every current version
Google Sheets: Same formula

See it work

The formula is already in D2, filled down to D7. Change any input and the result updates, or edit the formula to experiment.

How it works

The first IF catches the empty delivery date. An empty cell counts as 0, which is earlier than any date, so without this test PO-775 would show "On time". The second IF compares the two dates: a later date is a larger number. Delivery on the promised day counts as on time.

=IF(C2="","Not delivered",IF(C2>B2,"Late","On time"))

Result"On time"

C29/3/2026
The value in C2.
C2=""FALSE
The = operator tests whether the two sides are equal.
B29/4/2026
The value in B2.
C2>B2FALSE
The > operator tests greater than.
IF(C2>B2,"Late","On time")"On time"
IF: Returns one value if a test is true, another if false.
- logical_testC2>B2FALSE
- value_if_true"Late"not used
- value_if_false"On time"
IF(C2="","Not delivered",IF(C2>B2,"Late","On time"))"On time"
IF: Returns one value if a test is true, another if false.
- logical_testC2=""FALSE
- value_if_true"Not delivered"not used
- value_if_falseIF(C2>B2,"Late","On time")"On time"

In Google Sheets

The same formula works in Google Sheets: =IF(C2="","Not delivered",IF(C2>B2,"Late","On time")). We ran it in Google Sheets mode on the same data and it returns the same results.

Other ways to do it

Each one was run on the same example sheet.

Formula	Result	When to use it
=IF(C2="","Not delivered",IF(C2-B2>0,C2-B2&" days late","On time"))	On time, 4 days late, On time…Different result	Says how late, by subtracting the dates. Shows "4 days late" and "7 days late" instead of "Late".
=IFS(C2="","Not delivered",C2>B2,"Late",TRUE,"On time")	On time, Late, On time…	IFS lists the cases in order without nesting. Excel 2019 and later, and Google Sheets.

Common mistakes

Skipping the blank check marks undelivered orders as on time.
Dates with times attached make a same-day delivery at 3 PM "later" than a promised date at midnight. Compare INT(C2) when times are present.

Try it yourself

Same data, empty answer cell. Your formula is graded instantly, then re-checked on changed data, so a typed-in number won't pass.

Compare two dates and flag late deliveries

In D2, show "Not delivered" when there is no delivery date, "Late" when it is after the promised date, and "On time" otherwise. Fill down to D7.

Questions

How do I calculate days late, with 0 for early deliveries?

Use MAX: =IF(C2="","",MAX(0,C2-B2)).

How do I count late deliveries?

Compare the columns row by row: =SUMPRODUCT((C2:C7<>"")*(C2:C7>B2:B7)).

Checked by running on 2026-10-30: every formula and result on this page was calculated by the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine, in both Excel and Google Sheets modes.