Excel NETWORKDAYS.INTL Function: Syntax, Examples & Tips

start_date:
The starting date from which to begin counting the number of working days. This can be a date value, a cell reference containing a date, or a formula that returns a date.

end_date:
The ending date up to which to count the number of working days. This can also be a date value, a cell reference containing a date, or a formula that returns a date.

weekend:
An optional parameter that specifies which days of the week are considered weekends. This can be a number (1-7) or a string of seven characters (0 or 1) representing each day of the week, where 1 indicates a weekend day and 0 indicates a working day.

holidays:
An optional parameter that allows you to specify one or more dates to be excluded from the working days count. This can be a range of cells containing holiday dates or an array of dates.

What is a NETWORKDAYS.INTL Formula in Excel?

The NETWORKDAYS.INTL function in Excel is a useful tool that calculates the number of working days between two dates, excluding weekends and specified holidays. This function allows you to customize which days of the week are considered weekends, making it versatile for different business needs.

In simpler terms, the NETWORKDAYS.INTL function helps you determine the number of business days available for a project or task, taking into account any non-working days you specify.

A Practical Example

Imagine you are managing a project timeline and need to calculate the number of working days between a project start date and end date, while excluding weekends and holidays.

Project Timeline Table:

You want to find out how many working days are available for the project from October 1, 2023, to October 15, 2023, excluding weekends (Saturday and Sunday) and the holiday on October 9, 2023.

NETWORKDAYS.INTL Formula

To calculate the total working days, you would use the NETWORKDAYS.INTL formula as follows:

=NETWORKDAYS.INTL(A2, B2, 1, C2)

Breakdown of the Formula:

• A2: This is the start date of the project (October 1, 2023).
• B2: This is the end date of the project (October 15, 2023).
• 1: This specifies that Saturday and Sunday are the weekend days.
• C2: This is the range of holidays to exclude (October 9, 2023).

Result of the Formula

When you apply the formula, it calculates the number of working days between the start and end dates, excluding the specified weekend days and the holiday. The output would be:

Here, the total working days are calculated as 10, considering that October 9 is a holiday and weekends are excluded.

Why Use NETWORKDAYS.INTL?

The NETWORKDAYS.INTL function is particularly useful when you need to plan projects, manage timelines, or analyze work schedules while accounting for non-working days. It allows you to accurately assess the time available for tasks, helping you make informed decisions.

Key Takeaways:

• NETWORKDAYS.INTL: Calculates the number of working days between two dates, excluding weekends and specified holidays.
• Customizable Weekends: Allows you to define which days are considered weekends.
• Common Use Cases: Ideal for project management, timeline planning, and any scenario where working days need to be calculated.

Understanding how to use the NETWORKDAYS.INTL function can significantly enhance your project management capabilities in Excel, enabling you to effectively plan and allocate resources.

Happy calculating!