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NETWORKDAYS.

Returns the number of whole working days between two dates, excluding weekends and optional holidays.

SyntaxArgumentsExampleInteractive SandboxGeneratorCompatibilityFAQRelatedCheat Sheet
Category: Date & Time
ExcelExcel 365Excel 2021Excel 2019Google Sheets

How it works.

NETWORKDAYS calculates the number of working days (Monday through Friday) between a start date and end date. It automatically filters out weekends, and you can provide an optional list of custom holiday dates to exclude from the calculation.

💡 In simple terms.

Counts the number of working days between two dates, automatically skipping weekends (Saturdays & Sundays) and holidays.

Everyday Analogy

"Think of this like counting school days. It counts the days you have school, automatically skipping weekends and holidays."

Formula syntax.

Standard Excel Notation
=NETWORKDAYS(start_date, end_date, [holidays])
Tip:Arguments wrapped in square brackets [like_this] are optional; all other arguments are required.

Formula arguments.

Every parameter accepted by the NETWORKDAYS function is detailed below.

start_dateRequired

The starting date of the period.

Example value: A2
end_dateRequired

The ending date of the period.

Example value: B2
holidaysOptional

A range containing holiday dates to exclude.

Example value: E2:E3

Simple example.

Step-by-Step Scenario

Calculate Project Working Days

Calculate the total billable working days between a project start and end date, excluding holidays.

Start DateEnd DateWork DaysHolidays ListHoliday Date
2026-08-032026-08-14—Christmas2026-08-10
2026-08-052026-08-25—New Year2026-08-21
2026-08-102026-08-21———
Applied Formula
=NETWORKDAYS(A2, B2, E2:E3)
Expected Result:Calculated output

Evaluates NETWORKDAYS over the sample table cells, placing the verified output in cell C2:C6.

Formula generator.

Full Generator Wizard

Customize the argument fields below to generate a tailored NETWORKDAYS formula ready to paste directly into your worksheet.

Generated FormulaReady to copy
=NETWORKDAYS()

Expected result behavior.

Returns "Calculated output" based on sample evaluation criteria and active cell references.

Sample Output:Calculated output
Output Type:Text String

Best Practices

  • To calculate working days with custom weekend schedules (like Saturdays only or Friday/Saturdays), use the advanced `=NETWORKDAYS.INTL()` function instead.

Common Mistakes

  • Ensure your date values are real Excel serial dates or formatted text cells, rather than plain text that Excel fails to parse.
Compatibility Database

Platform & version compatibility.

Verified platform compatibility matrix based on actual spreadsheet calculation engine specifications.

Excel✓
Supported
Excel 365✓
Supported
Excel 2021✓
Supported
Excel 2019✓
Supported
Google Sheets✓
Supported
Microsoft Excel History & Version Availability

Core standard function supported across all modern and legacy Microsoft Excel versions (365, 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010), as well as Excel for the Web and Mac.

Google Sheets Compatibility Notes

100% compatible with Google Sheets. Uses identical argument order, data types, and standard calculation logic.

Frequently asked questions.

Technical Q&A
Can I use NETWORKDAYS across different worksheets in Excel?↓

Yes. You can reference cells located on other sheets by including the sheet name followed by an exclamation mark, for example: =NETWORKDAYS(Sheet2!A2:A10). If the sheet name contains spaces, enclose it in single quotes: ='Q1 Report'!A2:A10.

What is the most common reason for errors in NETWORKDAYS?↓

Ensure your date values are real Excel serial dates or formatted text cells, rather than plain text that Excel fails to parse.

Does NETWORKDAYS work identically in Google Sheets?↓

Yes, NETWORKDAYS is supported in both Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets with standard evaluation behavior.