How to Create Leave Tracker in Excel (With Easy Steps)

We’ll use a dataset of 5 employees of a company to create a leave tracker.

How to Create Leave Tracker in Excel


Step 1 – Create a Summary Layout

  • Create a Summary sheet.
  • Select cell F1.
  • From the Insert tab, select the drop-down arrow for Illustrations.
  • Choose Picture and select This Device.

Creating Summary layout to Create Leave Tracker

  • A dialog box called Insert Picture will appear.
  • Select your company logo and click Insert.

  • We are inserting our website logo to show the process.

  • Select the range of cells B4:I4 and select the Merge & Center option from the Alignment group.
  • Insert the title. We set the file title as Employee Leave Tracker. Keep your desired formatting to the cell.

  • In cell B6, write the title Year.
  • In cell C6, insert the current year.

Creating Summary layout to Create Leave Tracker

  • In the range of cells K8:L14, specify the leave types and their short codes. We put 6 different types of leaves.

Creating Summary layout to Create Leave Tracker

  • Select cell B8:I8.
  • Select the Merge & Center option and write down the table title. We put it as Year Summary.

Creating Summary layout to Create Leave Tracker

  • In cell B9, write the column name as Employee Name and set the range of cells B10:B14 for employees.

Creating Summary layout to Create Leave Tracker

  • In the range of cells C9:H9, denote the leave short forms.

Creating Summary layout to Create Leave Tracker

  • Set 2 Total cells, one for the column and the other for the rows.

Creating Summary layout to Create Leave Tracker

  • Here’s our summary layout.

Creating Summary layout to Create Leave Tracker

Read More: How to Track Employee Vacation Time in Excel


Step 2 – Build Tracker List for Each Month

  • Create a new sheet and rename it as Jan.
  • In the Home tab, select the Format option from the Cells group and click on Column Width.

Build Tracker List for Individual Month to Create Leave Tracker in Excel

  • A small dialog box called Column Width will appear.
  • Set the column width to 2.50 and click OK.

  • Select cell AF1 and insert your company logo similarly as in Step 1.

  • In cell B4, insert the following formula:

="January"&Summary!C6

  • Press Enter to store the data.

Build Tracker List for Individual Month

  • As the month of January has 31 days, select 32 columns that are from B6:AG6. Select the Merge & Center option from the Alignment group.
  • In the merged cell, insert the following formula and press the Enter key.

=B4

Build Tracker List for Individual Month

  • Name cell B7 as Days and cell B8 as Employee Name.

  • Modify the cell format for the range of cells B9:B13 and keep them to input the employee names.

=DATE(Summary!$C$6,1,1)

Build Tracker List for Individual Month to Create Leave Tracker in Excel

  • In cell D8, insert the following formula and drag the Fill Handle icon to the right to copy the formula until you get 28.
=C8+1

Build Tracker List for Individual Month

  • For the last 3 cells AE8:AG8, insert the formula shown below:

=IF(MONTH($AD8+1)>MONTH($C$8),"",$AD8+1)

Breakdown of the Formula

MONTH($AD8+1): This function returns 1.

MONTH($C$8): This function returns 1.

IF(MONTH($AD8+1)>MONTH($C$8),””,$AD8+1):  This function returns the date.

Build Tracker List for Individual Month to Create Leave Tracker in Excel

  • In cell C7, insert the following formula:
=IF(C8="","",INDEX({"Su";"M";"Tu";"W";"Th";"F";"Sa"},WEEKDAY(C8,1)))

Breakdown of the Formula

WEEKDAY(C8,1): This function returns 7.

INDEX({“Su”;”M”;”Tu”;”W”;”Th”;”F”;”Sa”},WEEKDAY(C8,1)): This function returns Sa.

IF(C8=””,””,INDEX({“Su”;”M”;”Tu”;”W”;”Th”;”F”;”Sa”},WEEKDAY(C8,1))):  This function returns the day name Sa.

Build Tracker List for Individual Month to Create Leave Tracker in Excel

  • Drag the Fill Handle icon to the right to copy the formula up to cell AG7.

Build Tracker List for Individual Month to Create Leave Tracker in Excel

  • Select cell C9.
  • In the Data tab, select the drop-down arrow of the Data Validation option from the Data Tools group.
  • Select the Data Validation option.

Build Tracker List for Individual Month to Create Leave Tracker in Excel

  • A small dialog box called Data Validation will appear.
  • In the Setting tab, select the drop-down arrow below the Allow title and choose the List option.
  • Insert the cell reference $AH$8:$AM$8 in the box below Source or simply select the range with your mouse.
  • Click OK.

Build Tracker List for Individual Month to Create Leave Tracker in Excel

  • You will see a drop-down arrow that contains all the short forms.
  • Drag the Fill Handle icon in the range of cells C9:AG13 to copy the drop-down arrow in all the cells.
  • Mark the weekends with a different color so that you can easily find them.

Build Tracker List for Individual Month to Create Leave Tracker in Excel

  • Select the range of cells AH6:AM6 and choose the Merge & Center option.
  • Name the merged cell as Total.

=COUNTIF($C9:$AG9,AH$8)+0.5*COUNTIF($C9:$AG9,AH$8&"H")+0.5*COUNTIF($C9:$AG9,"H"&AH$8)

Breakdown of the Formula

COUNTIF($C9:$AG9,AH$8): This function returns 1.

COUNTIF($C9:$AG9,AH$8&”H”): This function returns 0.

COUNTIF($C9:$AG9,”H”&AH$8): This function returns 0.

COUNTIF($C9:$AG9,AH$8)+0.5*COUNTIF($C9:$AG9,AH$8&”H”)+0.5*COUNTIF($C9:$AG9, “H”&AH$8): This function returns the day name 1.

Build Tracker List for Individual Month to Create Leave Tracker in Excel

  • Drag the Fill Handle icon to the range of cells AH9:AM13.

  • In the range of cells AH8:AM8, insert the following formula to show the leave type short forms.

=Summary!C9

Build Tracker List for Individual Month

=SUM(AH9:AH13)

Build Tracker List for Individual Month to Create Leave Tracker in Excel

  • Drag the Fill Handle icon to copy the formula up to cell AM7.
  • The leave tracker for the month of January will be ready to use.

Build Tracker List for Individual Month to Create Leave Tracker in Excel

  • Create the monthly leave tracker sheets for the other months of the year. You can copy most of the content and change the month.

Build Tracker List for Individual Month to Create Leave Tracker in Excel

Read More: How to Create Employee Monthly Leave Record Format in Excel


Step 3 – Generate the Final Leave Tracker

  • Insert the following formula into cell C9.
=IFERROR(INDEX(Jan!AH$9:AH$13,MATCH($B10,Jan!$B$9:$B$13,0)),0)+IFERROR(INDEX(Feb!AH$9:AH$13,MATCH($B10,Feb!$B$9:$B$13,0)),0)+IFERROR(INDEX(Mar!AH$9:AH$13,MATCH($B10,Mar!$B$9:$B$13,0)),0)+IFERROR(INDEX(Apr!AH$9:AH$13,MATCH($B10,Apr!$B$9:$B$13,0)),0)+IFERROR(INDEX(May!AH$9:AH$13,MATCH($B10,May!$B$9:$B$13,0)),0)+IFERROR(INDEX(Jun!AH$9:AH$13,MATCH($B10,Jun!$B$9:$B$13,0)),0)+IFERROR(INDEX(Jul!AH$9:AH$13,MATCH($B10,Jul!$B$9:$B$13,0)),0)+IFERROR(INDEX(Aug!AH$9:AH$13,MATCH($B10,Aug!$B$9:$B$13,0)),0)+IFERROR(INDEX(Sep!AH$9:AH$13,MATCH($B10,Sep!$B$9:$B$13,0)),0)+IFERROR(INDEX(Oct!AH$9:AH$13,MATCH($B10,Oct!$B$9:$B$13,0)),0)+IFERROR(INDEX(Nov!AH$9:AH$13,MATCH($B10,Nov!$B$9:$B$13,0)),0)+IFERROR(INDEX(Dec!AH$9:AH$13,MATCH($B10,Dec!$B$9:$B$13,0)),0)

Breakdown of the Formula

MATCH($B10,Jan!$B$9:$B$13,0): This function returns 2.

INDEX(Jan!AH$9:AH$13,MATCH($B10,Jan!$B$9:$B$13,0)): This function returns 0.

IFERROR(INDEX(Jan!AH$9:AH$13,MATCH($B10,Jan!$B$9:$B$13,0)),0): This function returns 1.

Generating Final Summary Report of Leave Tracker in Excel

  • Copy the formula up to cell H14 by dragging the Fill Handle icon.

Generating Final Summary Report of Leave Tracker in Excel

  • In cell I10, use the SUM function to sum the range of cells C10:H10:

=SUM(C10:H10)

Generating Final Summary Report of Leave Tracker in Excel

  • Double-click on the Fill Handle icon to copy the formula up to cell I14.

  • In cell C16, insert the following formula:

=SUM(C10:C14)

Generating Final Summary Report of Leave Tracker in Excel

  • Copy the formula up to cell I16 using the Fill Handle icon.

  • The leave tracker is completed and ready to use.

Generating Final Summary Report of Leave Tracker in Excel

Read More: How to Create Employee Leave Record Format in Excel


Step 4 – Verify the Leave Tracker with Data

  • Input employee names in the range of cells B10:B14.
  • Input some data for January in the sheet Jan.

Final Checking of Leave Tracker in Excel with Employee Data

  • Input some values for the months of February in sheets Feb.

Final Checking of Leave Tracker in Excel with Employee Data

  • If you check the Year Summary table, you will find our formula is extracting the values from the month sheets and showing us individual employees and individual leave types.

Final Checking of Leave Tracker in Excel with Employee Data

Read More: How to Create Maternity Leave Calculator in Excel


Download the Template


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Soumik Dutta
Soumik Dutta

Soumik Dutta, having earned a BSc in Naval Architecture & Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, plays a key role as an Excel & VBA Content Developer at ExcelDemy. Driven by a profound passion for research and innovation, he actively immerses himself in Excel. In his role, Soumik not only skillfully addresses complex challenges but also demonstrates enthusiasm and expertise in gracefully navigating tough situations, underscoring his unwavering commitment to consistently deliver exceptional, high-quality content that... Read Full Bio

13 Comments
  1. Hi! Am Babalola Olona. I want to say a very big thank you to ExcelDemy for this great article as this will go a long way to help build up a lot of learners.

    While I am happy that am able to learn a lot from this piece I however have challenges comprehending Step 3 “Generate Final Leave Tracker”, I really cant understand the formula used “IFERROR, INDEX, MATCH & SUM”.

    I can’t also understand the rational behind the use of 0.5, “H” & in the COUNTIF function. i will be eternally grateful this FUNCTIONS can be further broken down for a better understanding.

    Thank you.

    • Reply Avatar photo
      Naimul Hasan Arif Apr 5, 2023 at 12:02 PM

      Thanks a lot BABALOLA for the appreciation. It means a lot.
      In response to your first question, let me break down the whole formula with IFERROR, INDEX, MATCH & SUM and explain it to you.

      The first part of the formula here is IFERROR(INDEX(Jan!AH$9:AH$13,MATCH($B10,Jan!$B$9:$B$13,0)),0)
      First of all the MATCH function looks through the value in range B9:B13 of Jan sheet whether it matches the value in cell B10. If it gets matched, it will return the related value according to the index from the AH9:AH13 range. The IFERROR Function is used to return a value(i.e. 0) if it can not find any proper value to return.
      Similarly, I have gone through all 12 months’ sheets and added them with the SUM function.

      In response to your second question, the sign is used to concatenate cell AH$8 with the letter H. As it is considered a half match, 0.5 is multiplied. We have considered two half-matches to have the full match count.

  2. Hello, I track leave for my company and need more rows than 5 (much more than 5 people), how do I insert rows without messing up the formula?

    • Dear Karlyn Martinez,
      For your convenience, I have showed the task with following steps.
      Steps:
      ● First, you have to recognize the pattern in the formula
      Showing pattern
      ● You can use Format Painter or drag the row to add a new row or rows for editing new data.

      Modifying data
      ● Now add new data.

      Adding new data
      ● Inset new rows in the Summary sheet.
      Inserting new rows in Summary sheet
      ● Insert the Entire row.
      Inserting new row
      ● Edit the code according to the main dataset. As now in Jan worksheet, new data is added, and so the range will be changed to AH$15 and $B$15.
      Showing the formula change

      Hope, this will be helpful for you.

      Regards,
      Joyanta Mitra
      Excel & VBA Content Developer

  3. We ran into issues with the large formula since our line number weren’t exactly like yours. For instance, I have 10 employees vs 7. We’re still working on it but not quite there yet. Wish there was an easier way to get the summary.

  4. How do you record half day leave?

    • Hi KOH,

      Thanks for reaching out to us! Unfortunately, the method discussed above doesn’t currently support recording half-day leave. We understand how frustrating that can be, and we’re sorry for any inconvenience caused. Rest assured, we’ll definitely work on overcoming this limitation in the future.

      We’re grateful for your support of Exceldemy and we hope to make your experience even better in the future.

      Best regards,
      Aniruddah
      Team Exceldemy

  5. Hello – this tutorial has been so helpful – THANK YOU! I am however struggling to get my summary to pick up leave noted throughout the year when i carry out my test (as you do in your video)……I cannot work out where I have made an error as I thought I was being very careful to follow all of your instructions….can you please provide any help?

    • Reply Lutfor Rahman Shimanto
      Lutfor Rahman Shimanto Mar 24, 2024 at 4:28 PM

      Hello Tracey

      Thanks for your nice words. Your appreciation means a lot to us.

      Creating a Leave Tracker in Excel requires multiple steps, so you may often get unintentional errors when following these steps. Do not worry! You can share your problem within the ExcelDemy Forum by attaching your workbook.

      Regards
      ExcelDemy

  6. Hello
    I am not having any luck with step 3 generate final leave tracker on the summary page. I have tried it many different ways with no luck. Can I send it to get some help?

    • Reply Lutfor Rahman Shimanto
      Lutfor Rahman Shimanto Mar 27, 2024 at 5:09 PM

      Hello Bonnie

      Thanks for reaching out. Though a few steps are needed, making mistakes along the way is obvious. But no worries! The ExcelDemy Forum is there to help. Just share your workbook and ask for advice.

      Regards
      Lutfor Rahman Shimanto
      ExcelDemy

  7. I have 100 employees. I made it but the summary doesn’t work!!

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