How to Use Excel Formulas to Compare Two Dates

We have a dataset of some Students who have to submit their assignments, the Date of Submission & the Deadline, and the Remarks (if the submission is on time or delayed).

Method 1 – Using the IF Function to Compare If a Date Is Greater Than Another

Steps:

Enter the following formula to the first cell (i.e., E5) in the Remark section.

=IF($D$5>=C5,"On Time","Delayed")

Here,

D5= the Date of Deadline
C5= the Date of Submission

Press ENTER, and the cell will show “On Time” as the Deadline is greater than the Date of Submission, which means the assignment is submitted on time.

Drag the Fill Handle tool to the cells below to Autofill the formula for the next cells.

You will get the output for every cell you want.

Method 2 – Using the IF-DATE Formula to Compare Two Dates

For this dataset, we will use the IF and the DATE functions.

Steps:

Enter the following formula in the first cell of the remark section:

=IF(DATE(2022,9,2)>=C5,"On Time","Delayed")

Here,

DATE(2022,9,2)= the Date of Deadline
C5= the Date of Submission

Formula Breakdown

DATE(2022,9,2) takes the date 02-09-22 as input.
IF(02-09-22>=C5,”On Time”,”Delayed”) compares whether the date 02-09-22 is greater than or equal to the date of cell C5. It finds the logic true and so returns “On Time”. Otherwise, it would return “Delayed”.

Drag the formula for the other cells to get the same types of output.

Method 3 – Applying the IF Function with AND Logic to Compare Two Dates

The deadline date is ranged from 25-08-22 to 02-09-22.

Steps:

Enter the following formula for the selected cell in the Remark section.

=IF(AND(C5>=$G$5,C5<=$G$6),"On Time","Delayed")

Here,

G5= The Start Date of Deadline
G6= The End Date of Deadline
C5= The Date of Submission

Formula Breakdown

C5>=$G$5,C5<=$G$6) takes two conditions together, whether the date of submission is greater than the start date of the deadline and less than the end date of the deadline.
IF(AND(C5>=$G$5,C5<=$G$6),”On Time”,”Delayed”) checks the logic and returns “On Time” if it finds the logic true. Otherwise, it returns “Delayed”.

Drag the Fill Handle tool for the other cells to get the result.

Method 4 – Combining the IF and TODAY Functions

The deadline is today, and you want to determine if the assignment is submitted today or will be submitted later.

Steps:

Enter the following formula in the first cell of the remark section.

=IF(TODAY()>C5,"On Time","Delayed")

Here,

TODAY()= the Date of Today
C5= the Date of Submission

Formula Breakdown

TODAY()) returns the date of today by default ( 29-08-22)
IF(29-08-22>C5,”On Time”,”Delayed”) checks the logic and returns “Delayed” as it finds 29-08-22 is less than the comparing date 29-08-22.

Drag the Fill Handle tool to copy the formula for the next cells.

Method 5 – Applying a Conditional Formatting Formula to Highlight Which Date Is Greater

Steps:

Select the range of data > go to the Home tab> click Conditional Formatting> select New Rule.

The New Formatting Rule dialogue box will pop up.
Click Select a formula to determine which cells to format in the Select a Rule Type field and type the formula in the Format values where this formula is true field.

=$D$5>=C5