Whether you are counting down to a deadline, working out a notice period or checking how long a loan or deposit has run, knowing the number of days between two dates is surprisingly useful. Here are three ways to work it out, plus the rules that trip people up.
Method 1: use a date calculator
The fastest and safest way is our free date calculator. Enter the start and end date and it shows the total days, the breakdown in years, months and days, the number of weeks and the working days. It handles leap years and different month lengths for you.
Method 2: count by hand
- Count the days left in the start month.
- Add the days in each full month in between (remember February has 29 days in a leap year such as 2024 or 2028).
- Add the day number of the end date.
For example, from 4 November to 25 December 2026: 26 days left in November + 25 days in December = 51 days.
Method 3: Excel or Google Sheets
- Total days:
=B1-A1or=DAYS(B1,A1) - Years, months and days:
=DATEDIF(A1,B1,"y"),"ym"and"md" - Working days:
=NETWORKDAYS(A1,B1)(counts both dates and skips weekends; add a holiday list as a third argument)
Do you include the end date?
Most calculators, and simple subtraction, do not count the end date. From 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026 the result is 364 days. If you need to count both the first and last day, as for hotel stays priced per day, leave applications or a rental period, add 1, which gives 365.
So for a range such as "after 2023-12-01 before 2025-11-30", the difference between the two dates is 730 days. Counting both dates gives 731, and counting only the days strictly in between gives 729. The date calculator has a "count the end date" option so you can choose.
More examples
| From | To | Days | Working days* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Dec 2023 | 30 Nov 2025 | 730 | 521 |
| 1 Jan 2024 | 31 Dec 2024 | 365 (2024 has 366 days) | 262 |
| 1 Jan 2026 | 31 Dec 2026 | 364 | 261 |
| 4 Nov 2026 | 25 Dec 2026 | 51 | 38 |
| 4 Nov 2026 | 1 Jan 2027 | 58 | 43 |
*Monday to Friday, counting both dates, before public holidays.
Adding days to a date
The same tool works the other way. 30 days after 4 November 2026 is 4 December 2026, 90 days after is 2 February 2027, and 100 days after is 12 February 2027. Choose "Add or subtract from a date" in the date calculator.
Where day counts matter
- Age: your exact age in years, months and days, which you can get from the age calculator.
- Interest: simple interest and short-term deposits are often calculated per day, so check the period with the simple interest calculator.
- Deadlines and notice periods: contracts often say "within 30 days", so count carefully whether weekends are included.
Calculators used in this guide
Days between two dates – FAQs
How many days are there between 2023-12-01 and 2025-11-30?
730 days, which is 104 weeks and 2 days, or 1 year, 11 months and 29 days. It includes 521 working days.
How do I calculate days between two dates in Excel?
Subtract the start date from the end date (=B1-A1) or use =DAYS(B1,A1). Use =NETWORKDAYS(A1,B1) for working days.
Does the day count include the end date?
Usually not. Simple subtraction and most calculators exclude the end date. Add 1 if you need to count both the first and the last day.
How many working days are in a year?
About 261 or 262 weekdays, depending on the year, before you subtract public holidays. 2026 has 261 weekdays.
Further reading: Gregorian calendar (Wikipedia)