📅 Date & Time Function · intermediate
NETWORKDAYS Function in Google Sheets
Counts the number of business days between two dates, excluding weekends and optional holidays.
Syntax
NETWORKDAYS(start_date, end_date, [holidays])Returns: Count of business days from start_date to end_date inclusive.
Excel equivalent: NETWORKDAYS (identical)
Parameters
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| start_date | Required | Earlier date. |
| end_date | Required | Later date (inclusive). |
| holidays | Optional | Holidays to exclude. |
Examples
Business days in a project
=NETWORKDAYS(A2, B2)Business days from start to end.
With holidays
=NETWORKDAYS(A2, B2, Holidays!A:A)Subtracts holidays.
Tenure
=NETWORKDAYS(A2, TODAY())Business days from hire date to today.
When to use an alternative
- NETWORKDAYS.INTL — Non-standard weekends.
- DATEDIF "D" — Calendar days fine.
Common errors and how to fix them
Includes weekends
Cause: Used DATEDIF.
Fix: Switch to NETWORKDAYS.
Off by one
Cause: Inclusivity confusion.
Fix: NETWORKDAYS is inclusive on both ends. Mon to Fri = 5.
Related functions
WORKDAY
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DATEDIF
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TODAY
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DATE
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EDATE
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is end date counted?
Yes. Mon to Fri = 5, not 4.
Business hours?
Multiply by hours/day. No built-in NETWORKHOURS.