What it does
NETWORKDAYS counts working days between two dates.
Syntax or pattern
=NETWORKDAYS(start_date, end_date, [holidays])✅
5 practical examples
1
Count working days in a project
Calculate business days from start to finish.
=NETWORKDAYS(A2,B2)Weekends are excluded.
2
Exclude holidays
Count workdays with a holiday list.
=NETWORKDAYS(A2,B2,Holidays[Date])Holiday tables make the result more realistic.
3
Days remaining to deadline
Count workdays from today to due date.
=NETWORKDAYS(TODAY(),A2,Holidays[Date])Useful for project dashboards.
4
Measure SLA days
Count working days between request and close.
=NETWORKDAYS(RequestDate,CloseDate,Holidays[Date])Good for service reports.
5
Flag short timelines
Mark items with fewer than 5 working days left.
=IF(NETWORKDAYS(TODAY(),A2)<=5,"Soon","OK")Combines date counting with IF.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Check whether dates are real Excel dates, not text.
- Be careful with weekends, holidays and time portions.
- Explain whether a result counts calendar days or workdays.
Related Excel examples
FAQ
Why does the date formula return a number?
Excel stores dates as serial numbers. Format the cell as a date to display it correctly.