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Column B contains random dates. The array formula in column D returns consecutive dates from column B.

Array formula in cell D3:

How to enter an array formula

1. Select cell D3
2. Copy array formula (Ctrl + c)
3. Click in formula bar
4. Paste formula (Ctrl + v)
5. Press and hold CTRL + SHIFT
6. Press Enter simultaneously
7. Release all keys

How to copy array formula

1. Select cell D3
2. Copy (Ctrl + c)
3. Select cell range D4:D5
4. Paste (Ctrl + v)

Find consecutive numbers

Since dates are numbers in excel you can also use the array formula to identify consecutive numbers.

Find non-consecutive dates

Array formula in cell D3:

Explaining the array formula in cell D3 (Consecutive dates)

Step 1 - Find dates that have a consecutive date except the last consecutive date

COUNTIF($B$3:$B$8,$B$3:$B$8+1)

becomes

=COUNTIF({41430; 41436; 41432; 41441; 41431; 41438}, {41430; 41436; 41432; 41441; 41431; 41438}+1)

becomes

=COUNTIF({41430; 41436; 41432; 41441; 41431; 41438}, {41431; 41437; 41433; 41442; 41432; 41439})

and returns

{1;0;0;0;1;0}

If you are interested in how the COUNTIF function works, read this post: COUNTIF function

Step 2 - Find dates that have a consecutive date except the first consecutive date

COUNTIF($B$3:$B$8,$B$3:$B$8-1)

becomes

=COUNTIF({41430; 41436; 41432; 41441; 41431; 41438}, {41430; 41436; 41432; 41441; 41431; 41438}-1)

becomes

=COUNTIF({41430; 41436; 41432; 41441; 41431; 41438}, {41429; 41435; 41431; 41440; 41430; 41437})

and returns

{0;0;1;0;1;0}

Step 3 - Add arrays using OR logic

COUNTIF($B$3:$B$8,$B$3:$B$8+1)+COUNTIF($B$3:$B$8,$B$3:$B$8-1)

becomes

{1;0;0;0;1;0} + {0;0;1;0;1;0} and returns {1;0;1;0;2;0}

Step 4 - Find values in array larger than 0 (zero)

(COUNTIF($B$3:$B$8,$B$3:$B$8+1)+COUNTIF($B$3:$B$8,$B$3:$B$8-1))>0

becomes

{1;0;1;0;2;0}>0

and returns {TRUE; FALSE; TRUE; FALSE; TRUE; FALSE}

Step 5 - Replace TRUE with corresponding date and FALSE with blanks

IF((COUNTIF($B$3:$B$8, $B$3:$B$8+1) + COUNTIF($B$3:$B$8, $B$3:$B$8-1))>0, $B$3:$B$8, "")

becomes

IF({TRUE; FALSE; TRUE; FALSE; TRUE; FALSE}, $B$3:$B$8, "")

becomes

IF({TRUE; FALSE; TRUE; FALSE; TRUE; FALSE}, {41430; 41436; 41432; 41441; 41431; 41438}, "")

and returns {41430; ""; 41432; ""; 41431; ""}

Interested in how the IF function works, read this post: IF function explained

Step 6 - Find the n-th smallest date

SMALL(IF((COUNTIF($B$3:$B$8, $B$3:$B$8+1) + COUNTIF($B$3:$B$8, $B$3:$B$8-1))>0, $B$3:$B$8, ""),ROW(A1))

becomes

SMALL({41430; ""; 41432; ""; 41431; ""}, ROW(A1))

becomes

SMALL({41430; ""; 41432; ""; 41431; ""}, 1)

and returns 41430 (June 5, 2013) in cell D3.

Interested in how the SMALL function works, read this post:
SMALL function and LARGE function

The ROW function: ROW function explained

Conditional formatting consecutive dates

Conditional formatting formula:

=(COUNTIF($B$3:$B$8,B3+1)+COUNTIF($B$3:$B$8,B3-1))>0

How to apply conditional formatting

1. Select cell range B3:B8
2. Go to "Home" tab
3. Click "Conditional formatting" button
4. Click "New Rule..."
5. Click "Use a formula to determine which cells to format"
6. Format values where this formula is TRUE:
   =(COUNTIF($B$3:$B$8,B3+1)+COUNTIF($B$3:$B$8,B3-1))>0
7. Click "Format.." button
8. Go to "Fill" tab
9. Pick a color
10. Click OK
11. Click OK

Read more about conditional formatting:

• Working with formulas in conditional formatting
• Search with conditional formatting
• How to use a table name in data validation lists and conditional formatting formulas

Download excel *.xlsx file

Consecutive dates.xlsx

Functions in this post

COUNTIF(range, criteria)
Counts the number of cells within a range that meet a single criterion that you specify.

IF(logical_test, [value_if_true], [value_if_false])
Checks whether a condition is met, and returns one value if TRUE, and another value if FALSE

SMALL(array, k)
Returns the k-th smallest value in a data set

ROW(reference)
Returns the row number of a reference.