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The Excel NETWORKDAYS Function
Basic Description
The Excel Networkdays function calculates the number of whole work days between two supplied dates.
This includes all weekdays (Mon - Fri), excluding a supplied list of holidays.
The format of the function is:
NETWORKDAYS( start_date, end_date, [holidays] )
where the arguments are as follows:
| start_date |
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The start of the period for which we are counting days
(the start date is counted in the returned number of days)
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| end_date |
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The end of the period for which we are counting days
(the end date is counted in the returned number of days)
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| [holidays] |
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An optional argument, which specifies an array of dates (in addition to weekends) that are not
to be counted as working days
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Note that the start_date, end_date and [holidays] arguments should be input as either:
- References to cells containing dates
or
- Dates returned from formulas
- If you attempt to input these date arguments as text, Excel may misinterpret
them, due to different date systems, or date interpretation settings.
Warning:
Although you can input date arguments as date serial numbers, this is not recommended
as date serial numbering does vary across different computer systems.
Examples
The spreadsheets below show simple examples of the Excel Networkdays function calculating the number
of work days between the two dates 01-Dec-2010 and 05-Jan-2011.
The format of the function is shown in the top spreadsheet and the results are shown below.
Formulas:
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Results:
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In the above spreadsheet :
- The holidays array has been omitted from the calculation in cell A8.
Therefore this result excludes Saturdays and Sundays but includes all other weekdays,
including the holidays at Christmas and New Year.
- In the examples in cells A9 and A10 the holidays array (in cells B3 - B5) is provided to the Networkdays function.
Therefore the calculation excludes Saturdays and Sundays and the listed Christmas and New Year holidays.
Note also that, as recommended by Microsoft, in all three calls to the Networkdays function, the start_date,
end_date, and [holidays] arguments have been supplied as either cell references or the return value from a function
(in this case the Excel Date function).
Further examples of the Excel Networkdays function can be found on the
Microsoft Office website.
Trouble Shooting
If you get an error from the Excel Networkdays function this is likely to be one of the following :
Common Errors
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#VALUE!
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Occurs if any of the supplied arguments are not valid dates
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#NAME?
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Occurs when Analysis ToolPak add-in is not enabled in your Excel.
You will need to enable this if you want to use the Excel Networkdays function.
To do this in Excel 2003 :
- From the Tools drop-down menu, select the option Add-Ins ...
- An 'Add-Ins' window will pop up. From this, select the option Analysis ToolPak and click OK
To do this in Excel 2007 :
- Click the Microsoft button on the top left of your spreadsheet and select
the Excel Options button
- From the menu on the left hand side, select Add-Ins
- In the 'Manage:' box, select Excel Add-ins and click Go...
- An 'Add-Ins' window will pop up. From this, select the option Analysis ToolPak and click OK
To do this in Excel 2010 :
- Click the File tab (top left of your spreadsheet) and select Options
- From the menu on the left hand side, select Add-Ins
- If the window that pops up doesn't show the 'Add-ins' list, use the 'Manage:'
drop-down menu (at the bottom of the window) to select Excel Add-ins. Click Go...
- From the 'Add-Ins' window, select the option Analysis ToolPak and click OK
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