# How to count working days between two dates in Excel

Use =NETWORKDAYS(start, end, holidays). It counts Monday to Friday, both ends included, and skips any dates listed as holidays.

**Excel:** `=NETWORKDAYS(B2,C2,$F$2:$F$3)` (Every current version)

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

## Example

Sample data (row 1 is the header):

| A | B | C | D | E | F |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Task | Start | End | Working days |  | Holidays |
| Setup | 2026-05-04 | 2026-05-15 |  |  | 2026-05-25 |
| Testing | 2026-05-18 | 2026-05-29 |  |  | 2026-07-03 |
| Launch prep | 2026-06-01 | 2026-06-12 |  |  |  |
| Rollout | 2026-06-29 | 2026-07-10 |  |  |  |

Formula in D2, filled to D5: `=NETWORKDAYS(B2,C2,$F$2:$F$3)`

Result: 10; 9; 10; 9

## How it works

NETWORKDAYS counts the weekdays between two dates, including both the start and the end, and subtracts any weekday that appears in the holiday list. The holiday range is locked with `$` so every row uses the same list.

## Other ways

- `=NETWORKDAYS(B2,C2)`: Without the holiday list, every weekday counts. (Holidays are counted as working days.)

## Common mistakes

- Both ends count: a task from Monday to Friday of the same week is 5 days, not 4.
- Holidays that fall on weekends make no difference, since weekends are already skipped.
- Keep the holiday list in cells (or a named range) so it's easy to update each year.

## Questions

**How do I add working days to a date?**

Use WORKDAY: `=WORKDAY(B2,10,$F$2:$F$3)` returns the date 10 working days later.

**My weekend is Friday and Saturday. What do I use?**

NETWORKDAYS.INTL with weekend code 7.

Every formula and result on this page was checked by running it in the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine on 2026-10-29.

Source: https://spreadsheetpractice.com/formulas/working-days-between-two-dates