How to use NETWORKDAYS in Excel
Counts weekdays between two dates, including both.
Syntax
start_dateThe first dateend_dateThe last date[holidays]Dates to skip (optional) optionalExample
Here’s NETWORKDAYS on a small table of orders. The highlighted cells are the ones the formula reads.
=NETWORKDAYS(DATE(2026,11,2),DATE(2026,11,30))Edit this formula live Change the ranges and watch the answer update. Free, no sign-up.
Common mistakes with NETWORKDAYS
Both ends are included
NETWORKDAYS counts the start and end dates if they’re weekdays.
Add a holiday list
The optional third argument takes a range of holiday dates to skip.
What the error messages mean
Type these slips into Gridwise and this is the feedback you get:
Leaving off the closing bracket
=NETWORKDAYS(DATE(2026,11,2),DATE(2026,11,30)
Parentheses don’t match. You have 3 opening and 2 closing parentheses. Every ( needs a ).
Questions
What does the NETWORKDAYS function do in Excel?
Counts weekdays between two dates, including both. The syntax is NETWORKDAYS(start_date, end_date, [holidays]).
Why is my NETWORKDAYS formula giving the wrong answer?
Both ends are included: NETWORKDAYS counts the start and end dates if they’re weekdays. Add a holiday list: The optional third argument takes a range of holiday dates to skip.
Does NETWORKDAYS work in Google Sheets?
Most Excel functions, including the core ones on this page, work the same way in Google Sheets. A few newer functions arrived in Sheets later or behave slightly differently, so test it on your own data.