The EDATE function
Adding months to a date: a due date three months out, the end of a trial period, a contract anniversary.
Syntax
=EDATE(start_date, months)
In a French Excel: =MOIS.DECALER(date_départ; mois).
Arguments
- start_date: the date.
- months: how many months; negative to go back.
An example
=EDATE(A2,3)
January 31 plus three months gives April 30: the day is brought back to the month's last day when it does not exist.
Pitfalls
- The result shows as a number if the cell is not formatted as a date.
- For the end of the month, EOMONTH returns the last day of the shifted month.
Going further
- DATEDIF.
- Find the right formula: "add months to a date".
Frequently asked questions
- Why does EDATE show a number?
- A date is a number for Excel: format the cell as a date.