How to Calculate Average Length of Stay in Excel

The calculation of the Average Length of Stay is a very common practice in the hospital or hotel industry. Microsoft Excel has made our way easier to provide a solution to this calculation. In this article, we will learn how to calculate the average length of stay in Excel with easy steps. We will also get to know this term in detail. So, without any delay, let us begin the tutorial.

What Is Average Length of Stay (ALOS)?

In general, the term Average Length of Stay (ALOS) is defined as the length of stay in an average amount for a certain number of people.

ALOS is a key indicator in the hospital and hotel sector. Analyzing the data of each period of ALOS helps to determine the scope of improvement and efficiency. It can vary according to the type of facility or service offered. For example, the ALOS of a hospital will differentiate from the one of a hotel because each provides different categories of service.

How to Calculate Average Length of Stay in Excel: Step-by-Step Process

In this section, we will describe the process for calculating the average length of stay in Excel with a step-by-step guideline. Carefully go through the procedure.

Step 1: Insert In and Out Dates

To start the process, here is a hypothetical situation where we are considering 5 patients’ data records in a hospital.

First, insert the Admission Time and Discharge Time of each patient in cell range C5:D9.

Read More: How to Get Average Time in Excel

Step 2: Calculate Individual Length of Stay (LOS)

Now, we will find the duration of stay for each patient.

In the beginning, insert this formula in cell E5.

=DATEDIF(C5, D5, "d")

Then, press Enter.
Here, you will see the Length of Stay for the first patient.
Next, left-click on the bottom corner of cell E5 and drag it to cell E9 as shown in the image.

Here, we applied the DATEDIF function to calculate the total number of days between cell C5 and cell D5.

Finally, you will see all the outputs at once.

Note: If you need to count the duration in months or years, you can apply these formulas.

LOS in Months: =DATEDIF(C5, D5, "m")

LOS in Years: =DATEDIF(C5, D5, "y")

Step 3: Find Total Length of Stay

At this stage, we will need to calculate the total length of stay that we found for each patient.

In the beginning, insert this formula in cell E11.

=SUM(E5:E9)

Afterward, hit Enter.
That’s it, you will get the Total Length of Stay (LOS).

Here, we used the SUM function to calculate the total value of the cell range E5:E9.

Step 4: Calculate Average Length of Stay (ALOS)

Now, comes the final stage where we will calculate the average length of stay in Excel.

First, insert this formula in cell E12.

=E11/5

Here, we divided the Total Length of Stay by 5 to find the Average Length of Stay. The dividend is 5 because the dataset shows the information on 5 patients.

Then, press Enter.
That’s it, you will finally get the value of the Average Length of Stay for the 5 patients in the hospital.

Things to Remember

It is very important to keep the format of all dates similar. Otherwise, it may show the wrong value.
You can use a Summary Chart after this calculation to get a proper visualization.

Download Practice Workbook

Download this practice file and try it by yourself.

Calculate Average Length of Stay.xlsx

Conclusion

Concluding the article, I hope that you find it helpful to calculate the average length of stay in Excel with easy steps. Let us know your insightful suggestions in the comment box.

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