MS Excel: EDATE function to add or subtract months from a date

The EDATE function in Excel allows you to add or subtract a specific number of months to/from a given date. This is especially helpful in financial forecasting, due date calculations, recurring billing schedules, and project planning.

Unlike simple addition of days, EDATE accounts for month-end rules and varying month lengths, making it far more reliable for calendar-based intervals.

Syntax

=EDATE(start_date, months)

Parameters:

Argument	Description
start_date	Required. A valid Excel date that serves as the starting point.
months	Required. Number of months to add (positive) or subtract (negative).

Returns: A serial number representing the resulting date, which can be formatted as a readable date.

Examples

Formula	Result	Explanation
=EDATE("2025-01-15", 3)	2025-04-15	Adds 3 months to Jan 15, 2025
=EDATE("2025-01-31", 1)	2025-02-28	Adjusts to the last valid date in February
=EDATE(TODAY(), 12)	1 year later	Moves current date 12 months ahead
=EDATE("2025-06-01", -6)	2024-12-01	Subtracts 6 months from June 1, 2025

Use the TEXT() function to display results in your preferred date format:

=TEXT(EDATE("2025-01-01", 1), "mmmm yyyy") → February 2025

Use Cases

Scenario	How EDATE Helps
Loan or lease schedules	Calculate monthly payment due dates
Subscription billing	Determine next billing cycle
Employee evaluations	Set review dates based on hire date
Warranty expiration tracking	Add months to purchase date
Financial forecasting	Add periods in cash flow models

Notes

• The result of EDATE is a serial number. Apply a date format to make it readable.

• Dates are stored as sequential numbers starting from Jan 1, 1900 in Excel (serial number 1).

• Invalid date inputs will result in a #VALUE! error.

Related Functions

Function	Description
EOMONTH()	Returns the end of the month after a number of months
DATE()	Creates a date from year, month, and day inputs
TODAY()	Returns the current date
WORKDAY()	Returns a workday n days before/after a given date
DATEDIF()	Calculates the difference between two dates in units

Summary

Feature	Description
Function Name	EDATE
Purpose	Add or subtract months from a date
Return Type	Serial number (date)
Handles Leap Years	Yes
Excel Availability	Excel 2007 and later

Final Thoughts

The EDATE function is a must-have for scheduling and forecasting where calendar months—not exact day counts—are the primary unit. Whether you’re handling recurring payments or building a time-based model, EDATE ensures accurate and consistent monthly intervals.