How to use the WORKDAY function in Excel

This function calculates the date that is a specified number of workdays before or after a start date, excluding weekends and optional holidays.

Syntax:
WORKDAY(start_date, days, [holidays])

Arguments:

• start_date (required): The beginning date for the calculation
• days (required): Number of workdays to add (positive) or subtract (negative)
• holidays (optional): List of dates to exclude as non-working days (e.g., public holidays)

Background:
Use WORKDAY() to:

• Calculate payment due dates based on business days
• Determine project deadlines excluding weekends/holidays
• Schedule deliveries within working days

Key features:

• Excludes Saturdays/Sundays by default
• Doesn’t count the start_date in calculations
• Holidays can be specified as a range or array constant
• Unlike NETWORKDAYS(), doesn’t include start date in count

Important notes:

• Returns #VALUE! for invalid dates
• Returns #NUM! if result is outside valid date range
• Truncates decimal values in days argument

Examples:

1. Basic calculation:
   =WORKDAY(TODAY(), 30) → Returns date 30 workdays from today
2. With holiday exclusion:
   =WORKDAY(« 12/12/2010 », 12, {« 12/24/2010″, »01/01/2011 »}) → Returns 12/29/2010
3. Negative days:
   =WORKDAY(« 01/15/2023 », -10) → Returns date 10 workdays before Jan 15, 2023

Formatting Note:
When entering holidays directly in formula, use curly braces {} not parentheses.