Are you tired of manually calculating the number of working days between two dates in Google Sheets? Look no further! We have a solution for you. Google Sheets offers a powerful function called NETWORKDAYS, which calculates the number of working days between two dates, excluding holidays. In this article, we will explore how to use the NETWORKDAYS function in Google Sheets to simplify your working day calculations.
What is the NETWORKDAYS Function in Google Sheets?
The NETWORKDAYS function in Google Sheets is a handy tool for calculating the number of working days between two given dates, while excluding specified holidays. This function is especially useful when you need to calculate the duration of a project, taking into account the impact of holidays.
How to Use the NETWORKDAYS Function in Google Sheets?
Using the NETWORKDAYS function in Google Sheets is a breeze. Just follow these simple steps:
- Type “=NETWORKDAYS” in a cell or go to “Insert” → “Function” → “Date” → “NETWORKDAYS”.
- Enter the start and end dates, and optionally, specify any holidays to exclude.
- Press Enter.
The general syntax of the NETWORKDAYS formula is as follows:
- Start_date: The start date of the event or project.
- End_date: The number of working days you want to calculate.
- Holidays [optional]: The dates of any holidays to be excluded.
To better understand how the NETWORKDAYS formula works, let’s take a look at some examples. In the table on the top right of the screenshot, we have five pairs that demonstrate how the formula results vary based on the inclusion or exclusion of the “holidays” parameter. In some formulas, the upper formula does not include the “holidays” argument, while the lower formula does. As a result, you can see the slight differences in the number of working days returned by the two types of formulas in each pair. Since the lower formula excludes holidays from the working days count, we have a smaller number of days in the lower row of each pair.
Let’s focus on the fifth pair (Project E) in the table. The formula in the upper cell (H11) returns 29 by counting the number of working days between the start and end dates. The lower formula (cell H12) excludes three holidays (Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day) from the working days count, so its result is 26, three days fewer than the result of the upper formula (29). Please note that Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve fall on a Sunday, so they are not considered working days in the first place.
What is the Difference Between the NETWORKDAYS and WORKDAYS Functions in Google Sheets?
As mentioned earlier, the NETWORKDAYS function calculates the number of working days based on the given start and end dates, while excluding specified holidays if any. On the other hand, the WORKDAYS function calculates the end date after a specified number of working days from a given start date, while also excluding the specified number of holidays. The WORKDAYS formula is handy when you have a specific start date and a specific number of project days.
Now that you have a clear understanding of the NETWORKDAYS function in Google Sheets, you can use it to simplify your working day calculations. Feel free to experiment with this function and apply it to your projects to save time and boost your productivity.
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