Formulas > =DAYS()

How To Use DAYS() Function in Google Sheets

Description

Returns the number of days between two dates.

Common questions about the DAYS formula:
- How does the DAYS formula work in Google Sheets?
- What is the correct syntax for the DAYS formula?
- Can the DAYS formula handle leap years?
- Can the DAYS formula calculate negative values?

The DAYS formula can be used appropriately to:
- Calculate the number of days between two dates.
- Track the elapsed time between project deadlines.
- Compare the length of different events or time periods.
- Monitor the duration of ongoing activities.

The DAYS formula can be commonly mistyped as:
- Using the wrong date format, e.g., MONTH/DAY/YEAR instead of DAY/MONTH/YEAR.
- Missing/extra commas or parentheses, e.g., DAYS(A1,B2) instead of DAYS(A1,B1).
- Incorrect cell references, e.g., DAYS(A1,B) instead of DAYS(A1,B1).

Common ways the DAYS formula is used inappropriately:
- Using the formula to calculate the difference between non-date values (e.g., numeric or text values).
- Attempting to use the DAYS formula for time-based calculations, instead of date-based calculations.

Common pitfalls when using the DAYS formula:
- Not taking into account the possibility of negative result values (if the end date is earlier than the start date).
- Forgetting that the DAYS formula might not correctly account for Daylight Saving Time changes in some cases.

Common mistakes when using the DAYS formula:
- Using the wrong date format or cell reference, leading to incorrect results.
- Not accounting for leap years or Daylight Saving Time changes in the calculation.
- Confusing the DAYS formula with other date-related formulas (e.g., DATEDIF, DATEVALUE).

Common misconceptions people might have with the DAYS Formula:
- Believing that the DAYS formula can only handle positive numbers, when it can, in fact, calculate the negative difference between two dates.
- Assuming that the DAYS formula takes time-based values into account, which it does not, as it calculates the difference in days without considering the specific hours, minutes, or seconds.

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How To Actually Use DAYS() in Sheets

DAYS(end_date, start_date)

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Learn more about the DAYS() formula:

Using the DAYS Function in Google Sheets

The DAYS function returns the number of days between two given dates. This function is straightforward and, therefore, easy to learn and use.

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