Introduction
Hey readers!
Welcome to our comprehensive guide on adding months to a date in Excel. Whether you’re a seasoned Excel whiz or just starting out, we’ve got you covered.
We’ll dive into various methods, from using simple formulas to working with functions like EDATE and DATEADD. Along the way, we’ll provide step-by-step instructions and clear examples to make the process as smooth as butter.
So, grab your Excel spreadsheet and let’s get started!
Section 1: Using Basic Formulas
Adding a Specific Number of Months
To add a specific number of months to a date, use the following formula:
=DATE(YEAR(date), MONTH(date) + months, DAY(date))
Replace "date" with the cell reference containing the original date and "months" with the number of months you want to add.
Adding Months Based on a Cell Value
If you want to add months based on a value stored in another cell, use this formula:
=DATE(YEAR(date), MONTH(date) + value, DAY(date))
Replace "value" with the cell reference containing the number of months to add.
Section 2: Using EDATE Function
Adding Months Using EDATE
The EDATE function is a built-in Excel function that simplifies adding months to a date. It takes two arguments: a start date and the number of months to add.
=EDATE(date, months)
This formula returns the date that is the specified number of months from the start date.
Adding Months Using Relative References
You can also use relative references in the EDATE function to add months from a cell value. For example, instead of using a specific number of months, you could use the following formula:
=EDATE(date, B2)
where B2 contains the number of months to add.
Section 3: Using DATEADD Function
Adding Months Using DATEADD
The DATEADD function is another built-in Excel function that can be used to add months to a date. It takes three arguments: a date, an interval (such as "month"), and the number of units to add.
=DATEADD("month", months, date)
This formula returns the date that is the specified number of months from the start date.
Using DATEADD with Multiple Intervals
You can also use DATEADD to add multiple intervals to a date. For example, to add both years and months, use the following formula:
=DATEADD("year", years, DATEADD("month", months, date))
Section 4: Table Breakdown
| Method | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Formula (Specific Months) | =DATE(YEAR(date), MONTH(date) + months, DAY(date)) |
=DATE(YEAR(A2), MONTH(A2) + 3, DAY(A2)) |
| Basic Formula (Cell Value) | =DATE(YEAR(date), MONTH(date) + value, DAY(date)) |
=DATE(YEAR(A2), MONTH(A2) + B2, DAY(A2)) |
| EDATE Function (Specific Months) | =EDATE(date, months) |
=EDATE(A2, 3) |
| EDATE Function (Relative Reference) | =EDATE(date, B2) |
=EDATE(A2, B2) |
| DATEADD Function (Specific Months) | =DATEADD("month", months, date) |
=DATEADD("month", 3, A2) |
| DATEADD Function (Multiple Intervals) | =DATEADD("year", years, DATEADD("month", months, date)) |
=DATEADD("year", 2, DATEADD("month", 3, A2)) |
Conclusion
There you have it, readers! You now know all the tricks to add months to a date in Excel. Whether you prefer using basic formulas, the EDATE function, or the DATEADD function, you can choose the method that best suits your needs.
Remember to check out our other articles on Excel tips and tricks. Keep practicing and you’ll become an Excel pro in no time.
FAQ about Excel: How to Add Months to a Date
1. How to add one month to a date?
Use the formula =DATE(YEAR(date), MONTH(date) + 1, DAY(date)).
2. How to add multiple months to a date?
Use the formula =DATE(YEAR(date), MONTH(date) + number_of_months, DAY(date)), where number_of_months is the number of months to add.
3. How to add months to a date in a different year?
Use the formula =DATE(YEAR(date) + number_of_years, MONTH(date) + number_of_months, DAY(date)), where number_of_years is the number of years to add.
4. How to add months to a date and return the day of the week?
Use the formula =WEEKDAY(DATE(YEAR(date), MONTH(date) + number_of_months, DAY(date))). The result will be a number representing the day of the week (1-7).
5. How to add months to a date and return the month name?
Use the formula =TEXT(DATE(YEAR(date), MONTH(date) + number_of_months, DAY(date)), "MMMM"). The result will be the month name as text.
6. How to add months to a date and return the year?
Use the formula =YEAR(DATE(YEAR(date), MONTH(date) + number_of_months, DAY(date))). The result will be the year as a number.
7. How to add months to a date and return the quarter?
Use the formula =INT((MONTH(DATE(YEAR(date), MONTH(date) + number_of_months, DAY(date))) - 1) / 3) + 1. The result will be the quarter number (1-4).
8. How to add months to a date and return the fiscal year?
Use the formula =IF(MONTH(DATE(YEAR(date), MONTH(date) + number_of_months, DAY(date))) <= 6, YEAR(DATE(YEAR(date), MONTH(date) + number_of_months, DAY(date))) - 1, YEAR(DATE(YEAR(date), MONTH(date) + number_of_months, DAY(date)))). The result will be the fiscal year as a number.
9. How to add months to a date and return the last day of the month?
Use the formula =EOMONTH(DATE(YEAR(date), MONTH(date) + number_of_months, DAY(date)), 0). The result will be the last day of the month as a date.
10. How to add months to a date and return the first day of the next month?
Use the formula =DATE(YEAR(DATE(YEAR(date), MONTH(date) + number_of_months, DAY(date))), MONTH(DATE(YEAR(date), MONTH(date) + number_of_months, DAY(date))) + 1, 1). The result will be the first day of the next month as a date.
