Sabrina Ayon
All of our everyday tasks depend on time. We must keep track of time because time is a transient circumstance. Years, months, days, etc. are used to measure the time. In Microsoft Excel, we can calculate the years, months, days, hours, etc.; actually the measurements of time between two dates. In this article, we will demonstrate different ways to calculate years and months between two dates in Excel.
Suppose, you are in charge of a number of tasks, you may want to remember how several months and years have transpired between two dates. Or you need to calculate someone’s age between two dates.
To calculate years and months between two dates we are going to use this dataset. The dataset contains some start dates and end dates and the number of years and months passed between the two dates. Now, Let’s go through the methods down and learn to calculate years and months using those methods.
1. Using Excel DATEDIF Function to Calculate Years and Months Between Two Dates
To calculate years and months between two dates, the DATEDIF function is the best option in Excel. Let’s have a basic understanding of the DATEDIF function first.
➧ Syntax:
The syntax for the DATEDIF function is:
DATEDIF(start_date,end_date,unit)
➧ Arguments:
start_date: [required] The first date is often known as the commencement date.
end_date: [required] A date that signifies the end of a period of time.
unit: The kind of information you’d like to get (“y”, “m”, “ym”, etc)
1.1. Calculating Age in Years
Assume that you want to calculate the age of some people for a particular time. For this, we need to know the birth date which is the start date in our dataset and also we need to know the exact day which we consider as the end date in our dataset. Now let’s calculate how old they were on that particular date. To calculate the year, we are using the DATEDIF function. Let’s follow the steps down.
STEPS:
- Firstly, select the cell where you want the calculated year. So we select cell D5.
- Secondly, type the formula on that cell.
=DATEDIF(B5,C5,"y")
Here, cell B5 indicates the start date and cell C5 indicates the end date. And we use “y” as the unit because we want the difference between two dates in years.
- After that, press Enter. And the formula will show in the formula bar.
- Now, to copy the formula over the dataset, drag the Fill Handle down.
- And, that’s it! The years are calculated in the resulting cell.
1.2. Calculating Age in Months
Likewise the previous section of 1.1, now we want to calculate the months of those persons. Again, we are using the DATEDIF function to calculate the months. For this, we need to go after the procedures.
STEPS:
- By the same token, choose the cell where you wish the calculated month to appear. As a result, we choose cell D5.
- Second, in that cell, type the formula.
=DATEDIF(B5,C5,"m")
Here, cell B5 represents the start date, whereas cell C5 represents the end date. We choose “m” as the unit because we’re looking for the difference in months between the two dates.
- After that, hit the Enter key. In the formula bar, the formula will appear.
- Next, drag the Fill Handle down to duplicate the formula over the dataset.
- That’s all there is to it! In the resultant cell, the months are calculated.
1.3. Marging Excel Formula to Calculate Age in Years and Months
Here, we want to calculate the years and months together using the DATEDIF function. Let’s see the steps below.
STEPS:
- As same as the previous methods, select the cell where you want the calculated years and months to appear. As a result, we choose cell D5.
- Second, enter the formula into that cell.
=DATEDIF(B5,C5,"y")&" years" &", "&DATEDIF(B5,C5,"m")&" months"
Here, cell B5 signifies the start date, and cell C5 signifies the end date.
- Then press the Enter key. And the formula will be displayed in the formula bar.
- Further, drag the Fill Handle down to copy the formula over the dataset.
- That’s it! In the resulting cell, the years and months are computed.
Read More: How to Use DateDiff Function in Excel VBA (5 Examples)
2. Applying Excel LET Function Calculate Years and Months
By using the LET function, we can calculate the years and months between two dates in Excel. Let’s start with a fundamental overview of the LET function.
➧ Syntax:
The syntax for the LET function is:
➧ Arguments:
name1: [required] This is the first name to be assigned. It needs to start with a letter.
name_value1: [required] Name1’s assigned value or calculation.
[name2] / [name_value2]: [optional] The second name, as well as its worth.
calculation: [optional] A calculation that employs names and values that have been assigned.
Now, Let’s have a look at the steps below.
STEPS:
- In the beginning, select the cell where you want the calculated years and months to appear. So we pick cell D5.
- Furthermore, insert the formula in that cell.
=LET(start,B5,end,C5, DATEDIF(start,end,"y")&" years, "& DATEDIF(start,end,"m")&" months")
Here, cell B5 denotes the start date, while cell C5 denotes the end date.
- Then, press the Enter key. And the formula will appear in the formula bar.
- Now, drag the Fill Handle down to copy the formula over the range.
- And finally, the years and the months are calculated in the resulting cells.
Read More: How to Calculate Years Between Two Dates in Excel (2 Methods)
3. Calculate Years & Months between Two Dates with YEARFRAC Function
We can calculate years and months with the YEARFRAC function in Excel. First, let’s review the YEARFRAC function in its most basic form.
➧ Syntax:
The syntax for the YEARFRAC function is:
➧ Arguments:
start_date: [required] The start date is represented by this date.
end_date: [required] The termination date is represented by this date.
[basis]:[optional] The day count basis to be used.
3.1. Calculating Years between Two Dates
To calculate years using the YEARFRAC function we need to follow the steps below.
STEPS:
- To begin, choose the cell in which you want the calculated years to appear. So, we choose D5.
- Then, write down the formula there.
=YEARFRAC(B5, C5)
Here, cell B5 symbolizes the starting date, and cell C5 symbolizes the ending date.
- After that, press Enter. The formula will be shown in the formula bar.
- Further, drag the Fill Handle down to repeat the formula over the set of data.
- And, in the end, you will see the result by following the above steps.
3.2. Calculating Months between Two Dates
To use the YEARFRAC function to calculate months, follow the instructions below.
STEPS:
- To begin, choose the cell wherein you want to get the calculated months. So, we choose cell D5.
- Second, type down the formula in that cell.
=YEARFRAC(B5,C5)*12
Here, cell B5 indicates the start date, and cell C5 indicates the end date.
- Then, hit Enter. And you will be able to see the formula in the formula bar.
- After that, copy the formula over the range D5:D8 by dragging the Fill Handle down.
- Finally, the months are calculated between the two dates.
Read More: How to Calculate Years in Excel from Today (4 Ways)
Similar Readings:
- Excel Formula to Calculate Number of Days Between Today & Another Date (6 Quick Ways)
- Formula to Find Date or Days in Next Month (6 Quick Ways)
- Excel Add Months to Date (4 Easiest Examples)
- Number of Months Between Two Dates in Excel: 5 Easy Ways to Find
- [Fixed!] VALUE Error (#VALUE!) When Subtracting Time in Excel
4. Calculating Duration between Two Dates Without Zero Value
Suppose, we need to find the difference between two dates without displaying the zero values. We can do this by combining the IF and DATEDIF functions in Excel. Let’s take a look at the steps below.
STEPS:
- Firstly, select cell D5.
- Secondly, type the formula there.
=IF(DATEDIF(B5,C5,"y"), DATEDIF(B5,C5,"y")&" years","")& IF(DATEDIF(B5,C5,"m"),", "&DATEDIF(B5,C5,"m")&" months","")
- After that, drag the Fill Handle down.
- Finally, this will calculate the duration between two dates without having zero values.
Read More: How to Calculate Working Days between Two Dates in Excel (4 Methods)
5. Combining YEAR and MONTH Functions to Count Months in Excel
To calculate months between two dates we can use the YEAR and MONTH functions together in Excel. Let’s take a look at the procedures below.
STEPS:
- In the first place, select cell D5.
- Then, write the formula in that cell.
=(YEAR(C5)-YEAR(B5))*12+MONTH(C5)-MONTH(B5)
- After that, hit Enter. And, the formula will appear in the formula box.
- Next, simply drag the Fill Handle down.
- And, there you go!
Read More: How to Count Months in Excel(5 ways)
6. Applying VBA to Calculate Years and Months Between Two Dates
With Excel VBA, we may do a wide range of activities. We can calculate years and months between two dates using the VBA Code. So let’s see the steps down to use the VBA to calculate years and months between two dates.
STEPS:
- First, go to the Developer tab on the ribbon.
- Second, click on Visual Basic or press Alt + F11 to open the Visual Basic Editor.
- Another way to open the Visual Basic Editor is, simply right-click on the sheet and select View Code.
- This will open the Visual Basic Editor where you can write the code.
- Now, write down the VBA Code below.
VBA Code:
Sub Years_and_Months_Between_Two_Dates()
Dim StartDate As Date, EndDate As Date
Dim year As Integer
Dim month As Integer
StartDate = "1-Jan-2020"
EndDate = "15-Mar-2022"
year = DateDiff("yyyy", StartDate, EndDate)
month = DateDiff("m", StartDate, EndDate)
MsgBox "Number of years: " & year, vbInformation, "Years Between Two Dates"
MsgBox "Number of months: " & month, vbInformation, "Months Between Two Dates"
End Sub- Next, run the code by pressing the F5 key or clicking the Run Sub button.
- And, this will first show the number of years in the MsgBox.
- Then, clicking on the OK button will next show the number of months between the given two dates.
Related Content: How to Add/Subtract Years to a Date in Excel
Download Practice Workbook
You can download the workbook and practice with them.
Conclusion
The above methods will assist you to calculate years and months between two dates in Excel. Hope this will help you! If you have any questions, suggestions, or feedback please let us know in the comment section. Or you can have a glance at our other articles in the ExcelDemy.com blog!
