Author: Oscar Cronquist Article last updated on September 03, 2018

The WORKDAY function returns a date based on a start date and a given number of working days (nonweekend and nonholidays).

The start date is shown in the image above, 12 working days later is 1/17/2018.

Formula in cell B8:

=WORKDAY(C3,C4)

Excel Function Syntax

WORKDAY(start_date, days, [holidays])

Arguments

start_date Required.
days Required. Positive integer returns a date after the start_date (future) and negative integer returns a date before the start_date.
[holidays] Optional. A list of holiday dates.

Comments

The WORKDAY function returns

  • #VALUE! error value if start_date or [holidays] are not a valid date.
  • #NUM error if start_date plus days argument returns an invalid date.
    (Excel can't handle dates before 1/1/1900.)

Use the DATE function to create a date if you happen to enter the date in the function.

Example:

=WORKDAY(DATE(2018,1,1),C4)

Negative days argument and a holiday

Formula in cell B9:

=WORKDAY(C3,C4,C5)

Excel Function Reference

This extensive function reference list provides detailed information including syntax, arguments, return values, and examples for many of the functions used in Excel formulas. Click on headers to sort table.