NETWORKDAYS Function in Microsoft Excel: Syntax, Examples & Compatibility
Learn how to count workdays in a date interval without manually excluding weekends in Microsoft Excel. Includes syntax, two verified-by-reasoning results, troubleshooting and portability notes.
Verification status: Official documentation referenced; example outcomes independently reasoned or arithmetically checked where stated. Not executed in Microsoft Excel. How formula examples are checked
Quick answer: count workdays in a date interval without manually excluding weekends in Microsoft Excel. The reproducible examples below use explicit values so the formula’s meaning is testable without a large workbook.
Evidence: The function name and syntax are documented in the linked vendor function reference. Expected outputs were independently reasoned or checked outside the application. These are not native Microsoft Excel test results. A guide being published here does not certify every software release or file-import scenario.
Syntax and arguments
=NETWORKDAYS(start_date, end_date, [holidays])
The dates delimit an inclusive interval; holidays is an optional list or range of excluded dates.
Best use case: Count workdays in a date interval without manually excluding weekends.
Set up the example sheet
Use the week Monday 1 June through Friday 5 June 2026, with no holidays in the first test. For the second test, put 3 June 2026 in A2 using =DATE(2026,6,3).
Enter the formula in an unused cell. For a formula returning several values, leave an unobstructed area where those values can expand. These formulas use comma argument separators in a typical English-language locale; commas or semicolons inside quoted text are data, not argument separators. Adapt the separator if your regional settings require it.
Worked example 1: NETWORKDAYS with known input
=NETWORKDAYS(DATE(2026,6,1),DATE(2026,6,5))
Expected output: 5.
Both endpoints are weekdays and are included, yielding all five weekdays.
Worked example 2: a second NETWORKDAYS case
=NETWORKDAYS(DATE(2026,6,1),DATE(2026,6,5),A2)
Expected output: 4.
The Wednesday holiday in A2 removes one workday from the five-day interval.
Compare both results before replacing literal values or short sample ranges with your own workbook data. For a spilling formula, compare every output cell, not only the top-left result.
Practical advice and troubleshooting
When this formula helps: NETWORKDAYS counts workdays; WORKDAY returns a target date after moving a given number of workdays. Do not swap the two.
Important edge case: The standard function assumes Saturday/Sunday weekends. It does not automatically know federal, provincial or company holidays.
If the result differs, first verify the text-versus-number types of the input cells, the argument separators for your locale, and the range size. For dynamic arrays, inspect occupied cells in the output area. An error that looks like a missing function may reflect a software version rather than incorrect data.
Compatibility and version considerations
Both programs support a holiday argument; inspect which holiday/date serials are used after importing between locales.
Check your installed release for availability and dynamic-array support.
Function availability and parameter behavior must be judged for the specific application and release; a function documented in one spreadsheet does not automatically work in another.
Related guides and official documentation
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Microsoft Excel documentation for NETWORKDAYS — function syntax and current vendor information.
Editorial verification: Vendor catalogue referenced as of 2026-10-12. The two example outputs are independently reasoned; no native application run, screenshot, or version-specific output is claimed. Review the editorial testing standards if you require stronger proof before importing a workbook.