How to calculate the percentage of time elapsed between two dates in Excel
Formula (Excel and Google Sheets)
=MIN(1,MAX(0,($G$1-B2)/(C2-B2)))Divide the days so far by the total days and clamp to 0–100%: =MIN(1,MAX(0,($G$1-B2)/(C2-B2))).
- Result on the example
- one result per row in
D2, filled down toD6 - Works in
- Every current version
- Google Sheets
- Same formula
See it work
The formula is already in D2, filled down to D6. Change any input and the result updates, or edit the formula to experiment.
How it works
$G$1-B2 is the days since the start and C2-B2 the length of the project, so their ratio is the share of the schedule used. MAX and MIN clamp it to 0% before the start and 100% after the end: the brand refresh hasn't started and the office move is over.
=MIN(1,MAX(0,($G$1-B2)/(C2-B2)))Result0.537037037
$G$110/29/2026The value in G1.
B29/1/2026The value in B2.
$G$1-B258The - operator subtracts.
C212/18/2026The value in C2.
C2-B2108The - operator subtracts.
$G$1-B2)/(C2-B20.537037037The / operator divides.
MAX(0,($G$1-B2)/(C2-B2))0.537037037MAX: Largest number.- number1
0 - number2
$G$1-B2)/(C2-B20.537037037
- number1
MIN(1,MAX(0,($G$1-B2)/(C2-B2)))0.537037037MIN: Smallest number.- number1
1 - number2
MAX(0,($G$1-B2)/(C2-B2))0.537037037
- number1
In Google Sheets
The same formula works in Google Sheets: =MIN(1,MAX(0,($G$1-B2)/(C2-B2))). We ran it in Google Sheets mode on the same data and it returns the same results.
Other ways to do it
Each one was run on the same example sheet.
| Formula | Result | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| =MEDIAN(0,1,($G$1-B2)/(C2-B2)) | 53.7%, 82.5%, 0.0%… | MEDIAN of 0, 1 and the ratio clamps it in one function. |
| =($G$1-B2)/(C2-B2) | 53.7%, 82.5%, -4.5%…Different result | Without the clamp. Shows a negative value and more than 100% for projects not started or finished. |
Common mistakes
- If the start and end are the same day, the ratio divides by 0. Guard it with
IF(C2=B2,…). - Time elapsed is not progress. Compare it with work completed to spot projects that are slipping.
- Without the cap, projects that are over or not started show values outside 0% to 100%, which breaks progress bars.
Try it yourself
Same data, empty answer cell. Your formula is graded instantly, then re-checked on changed data, so a typed-in number won't pass.
Calculate the percentage of time elapsed between two dates
D2, calculate the share of each project's schedule that has passed on the date in G1, between 0% and 100%. Fill down to D6.Questions
What percent of the year has passed?
=($G$1-DATE(YEAR($G$1),1,0))/(DATE(YEAR($G$1),12,31)-DATE(YEAR($G$1),1,0)).
How do I count working days instead?
Divide NETWORKDAYS: =NETWORKDAYS(B2,$G$1)/NETWORKDAYS(B2,C2), clamped the same way.
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.