How to list biweekly pay dates in Excel
Formula (Excel and Google Sheets)
=SEQUENCE(B2,1,B1,14)Use SEQUENCE with a step of 14 days: =SEQUENCE(B2,1,B1,14).
- Result on the example
- a 8-row list that spills from D2 in
D2 - Works in
- Excel 2021, 2024 and Microsoft 365
- Google Sheets
- Same formula
See it work
The formula is already in D2. Change any input and the result updates, or edit the formula to experiment.
How it works
SEQUENCE takes a step as its fourth argument, so a step of 14 counts up two weeks at a time from the first payday. B2 sets how many dates you get; a year of biweekly paydays is usually 26, and some years have 27.
=SEQUENCE(B2,1,B1,14)Result{8 rows × 1 col} 46031, 46045, 46059, 46073, …
B28The value in B2.
B11/9/2026The value in B1.
SEQUENCE(B2,1,B1,14){8 rows × 1 col} 46031, 46045, 46059, 46073, …SEQUENCE: A grid of sequential numbers. Spills.- rows
B28 - columns
1 - start
B11/9/2026 - step
14
- rows
In Google Sheets
The same formula works in Google Sheets: =SEQUENCE(B2,1,B1,14). We ran it in Google Sheets mode on the same data and it returns the same results, spilling 8 rows.
Other ways to do it
Each one was run on the same example sheet.
| Formula | Result | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| =B1+14*SEQUENCE(B2,1,0) | spills 8 × 1 | Adds 0, 14, 28 … days to the first payday. |
Common mistakes
- Some years have 27 biweekly paydays. Count them for 2026 with
=SUMPRODUCT(--(YEAR(SEQUENCE(27,1,B1,14))=2026)). - Paydays that land on a holiday don't move. Use
=WORKDAY(dates+1,-1,holidays)to pay on the business day before.
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.
List biweekly pay dates
D2, list the number of biweekly paydays in B2, starting on the date in B1.Questions
How do I list weekly dates?
Use a step of 7: =SEQUENCE(B2,1,B1,7).
How do I find the next payday after today?
=B1+14*ROUNDUP((TODAY()-B1)/14,0).
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.