| Function category | Date and time functions |
| Volatility | Non-volatile |
| Similar functions | WORKDAY.INTL |
What does the WORKDAY function do?
The WORKDAY function in Excel is used to calculate the date that occurs a specified number of working days from a given start date. It takes into account weekends (Saturday and Sunday) and, if needed, holidays.
This is especially useful in project management, accounting, and logistics where it's important to consider only working days without weekends.
WORKDAY function syntax
=WORKDAY(start_date, days, [holidays])- start_date — date from which to start counting.
- days — number of working days to shift. Can be negative — then Excel looks for a date in the past.
- [holidays] — optional range of dates that are considered non-working. If not specified, the function only skips weekends (Sat and Sun).
WORKDAY formula examples
=WORKDAY(A1, 10)| A | B | C | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Start | Day | +10 working days | Day |
| 2 | 10/22/2026 | Thu | 11/05/2026=WORKDAY(A2,10) | Thu |
| 3 | 10/23/2026 | Fri | 11/06/2026=WORKDAY(A3,10) | Fri |
| 4 | 10/24/2026 | Sat | 11/06/2026=WORKDAY(A4,10) | Fri |
The start date itself isn’t counted. Starting on Saturday works the same as starting on Friday. Format the result as a date — WORKDAY returns a serial number.
Returns the date that will occur 10 working days after the date in cell A1 (weekends excluded).
=WORKDAY(TODAY(), -5)| A | B | C | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Today | −5 working days | −1 | +1 |
| 2 | 10/22/2026=TODAY() | 10/15/2026=WORKDAY(TODAY(),-5) | 10/21/2026=WORKDAY(TODAY(),-1) | 10/23/2026=WORKDAY(TODAY(),1) |
A negative number of days moves into the past and skips weekends: 5 working days before Thursday is the previous Thursday.
Determines the date that was 5 working days ago from the current date.
=WORKDAY(A1, 7, C1:C3)| A | B | C | D | E | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Start | Days | Without holidays | With holidays | Holidays | |
| 2 | 11/09/2026 | 7 | 11/18/2026=WORKDAY(A2,B2) | 11/19/2026=WORKDAY(A2,B2,F2:F4) | 11/11/2026 | |
| 3 | 11/23/2026 | 3 | 11/26/2026=WORKDAY(A3,B3) | 11/30/2026=WORKDAY(A3,B3,F2:F4) | 11/26/2026 | |
| 4 | 11/27/2026 |
The holiday list moves the deadline: Nov 11 shifts the first one by a day, and Thanksgiving with the day after shifts the second by two. For other weekend days, use WORKDAY.INTL.
Also excludes holidays specified in the range C1:C3 from the calculation.
Other date and time functions in Excel
TIMEVALUE, TIME, YEAR, DATE, DATEVALUE, EDATE, DAY, WEEKDAY, YEARFRAC, EOMONTH, MONTH, MINUTE, WEEKNUM, DATEDIF, TODAY, SECOND, NOW, HOUR, NETWORKDAYS
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