What it does
WORKDAY returns a date a number of working days before or after a start date.
Syntax or pattern
=WORKDAY(start_date, days, [holidays])5 practical examples
Due date after 10 workdays
Calculate a due date excluding weekends.
=WORKDAY(A2,10)Useful for SLAs.
Include holidays
Exclude holidays from the schedule.
=WORKDAY(A2,10,Holidays[Date])Use a holiday table for accuracy.
Previous workday
Find the workday before a date.
=WORKDAY(A2,-1)Negative days go backward.
Shipping estimate
Estimate ship date after processing days.
=WORKDAY(OrderDate,ProcessingDays,Holidays[Date])Great for operations sheets.
Next workday from today
Return tomorrow’s working date.
=WORKDAY(TODAY(),1)Useful for dynamic task lists.
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.
Here are some ideas for you
Optional resources that may help if you are learning formulas, building reports, or working in spreadsheets often.
- Excel formula booksSee ideas
Practice formulas with structured examples you can keep beside your desk.
- Excel shortcut guidesSee ideas
Build speed with keyboard shortcuts for selection, formatting and navigation.
- Numeric keypadsSee ideas
Helpful if you enter many numbers on a laptop or compact keyboard.
- External monitorsSee ideas
Useful for viewing large worksheets, formulas and reference tables side by side.
- Desk notebooksSee ideas
Sketch formula logic, report ideas and table structures before building.
- Laptop standsSee ideas
Make long spreadsheet sessions more comfortable and ergonomic.
Some links in this section may be affiliate links. Choose only what is useful for your own work.