Author: Oscar Cronquist Article last updated on May 09, 2022

The EDATE function returns a date determined by a start date and a number representing how many months.

Use EDATE to calculate maturity dates or due dates that fall on the same day of the month as the date of issue.

Formula in cell D3:

=EDATE(B3,C3)

Excel Function Syntax

EDATE(start_date, months)

Arguments

start_date Required. A start date.
months Required. The number of months before or after start_date. You are allowed to use negative numbers here. A negative number makes the function return an earlier date than the start date.

Comments

Excel dates are actually numbers formatted as dates. January 1, 1900 is serial number 1, and January 1, 2008 is serial number 39448 because it is 39,448 days after January 1, 1900.