Calculate last date of a given month
The formula in cell C3 calculates the last date for the given month and year in cell B3.
Explaining formula in cell C3
The DATE function returns an Excel date based on a year, month and day number. DATE(year, month, day) but first we need to extract the argument numbers needed.
The YEAR function calculates the year of an Excel date value. YEAR(B3) becomes YEAR(6026) and returns 1916.
The MONTH function returns the number of the month of an Excel date value. However, we also add 1 to that number. This move takes us to the next month.
MONTH(B3)+1 becomes MONTH(6026)+1 becomes 6 + 1 and returns 7.
The third argument will always be 1. This makes sure that the DATE function always returns the first date of the next month. The DATE function now looks like this:
DATE(1906, 7, 1) and returns 7/1/1906.
But wait, we needed the last date in the previous month? Yes, but subtract the Excel date with 1 and you get the last date of the previous month. This takes care of weird things like leap years that might cause trouble to the calculations.
7/1/1906 -1 is 6/30/1906.
Weekly Blog EMAIL
Welcome! I am Oscar and here to help you out.Feel free to comment and ask Excel questions.
Make sure you subscribe to my newsletter so you don't miss new blog articles.
Related articles
Question: I am trying to create an excel spreadsheet that has a date range. Example: Cell A1 1/4/2009-1/10/2009 Cell B1 […]
Find latest date based on a condition
Table of contents Lookup a value and find max date How to enter an array formula Explaining array formula Get […]
Formula for matching a date within a date range
Table of contents Match a date when a date range is entered in a single cell Match a date when […]
Count dates inside a date range
How do I automatically count dates in a specific date range? Array formula in cell D3: =SUM(IF(($A$2:$A$10<$D$2)*($A$2:$A$10>$D$1), 1, 0)) + […]
How to calculate overlapping time ranges
I found an old post that I think is interesting to write about today. Think of two overlapping ranges, it […]
Count specific WEEKDAYS between two dates
If you want to count specific weekdays like for example Mondays and Wednesdays you need a more complicated array formula. […]
7 days (weekly) date ranges using a formula
Shannon asks:I need a formula that if I enter a start date in field B1 such as 6/8/11 it will […]
Question: I have a column "B" with a last name.. I have another columb with a date in it "C"... […]
How to count workdays between two dates
Excel contains a great function that easily counts the number of workdays between two dates, it even allows you to […]
One Response to “Calculate last date of a given month”
Leave a Reply
How to comment
How to add a formula to your comment
<code>Insert your formula here.</code>
Convert less than and larger than signs
Use html character entities instead of less than and larger than signs.
< becomes < and > becomes >
How to add VBA code to your comment
[vb 1="vbnet" language=","]
Put your VBA code here.
[/vb]
How to add a picture to your comment:
Upload picture to postimage.org or imgur
Paste image link to your comment.
Hi
I would just use =eomonth(b3)
Much simpler