Date formula page
Add Months to Date Formula
Use EDATE for subscription renewals, review dates, or follow-ups that move by whole months.
Best for
Add months to a date in Excel or Google Sheets.
What it returns
If A2 is 2026-01-15, the result is 2026-04-15.
Copy formulas
=EDATE(A2, 3)=EDATE(A2, 3)Excel and Google Sheets both use EDATE to move by whole calendar months. If the target month is shorter, EDATE returns its last valid day.
Example data
| Start Date | End Date | Holiday | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-01 | 2026-01-31 | 2026-01-19 | 30 |
| 2026-02-10 | 2026-03-12 | 30 | |
| 1990-05-20 | 2026-05-20 | 36 |
What it returns
If A2 is 2026-01-15, the result is 2026-04-15.
How the formula works
- A2 is the starting date.
- 3 is the number of months to add.
- Use a negative number to subtract months.
| Syntax piece | Role in the formula |
|---|---|
| A2 | The real starting date serial. |
| 3 | The number of months to add; a negative value subtracts months. |
| EDATE month-end adjustment | Clamps a day that does not exist in the target month to that month's final day. |
Verified examples
=EDATE(A2, 3)Excel: Enter 2026-01-15 in A2. Returns: 2026-04-15
=EDATE(A2,1)Google Sheets: Enter 2026-01-31 in A2. Returns: 2026-02-28
=EDATE(A2,-3)Excel: Enter 2026-04-15 in A2. Returns: 2026-01-15
Common errors and fixes
| Issue | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| EDATE returns #VALUE! | A2 contains text rather than a real spreadsheet date. | Convert A2 to a real date before applying EDATE. |
| The result displays as a serial number | The output cell is not formatted as a date. | Apply a date format to the result cell. |
| January 31 becomes February 28 | February has no day 31, so EDATE adjusts to the last valid day in the target month. | Use EOMONTH when an explicit month-end rule is clearer, and document the adjustment in the workbook. |
When not to use this formula
- Do not use EDATE when the required offset is a fixed number of calendar days or working days.
Alternatives
| Alternative | When to use it |
|---|---|
| Add Days to Date Formula | Use when the offset is an exact number of calendar days. |
| Last Day of Month Formula | Use when the result should explicitly be the final calendar day of a month. |
Related formulas
Official references
- EDATE function from Microsoft
FAQ
Can EDATE subtract months?
Yes. Use a negative months argument, such as -3 for three months earlier.
What happens when the target month is shorter?
EDATE returns the last valid day of the target month, such as February 28 when moving January 31 forward one month in 2026.