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WORKDAY Function in Google Sheets: Syntax, Examples & Compatibility

Date & Time Beginner Google Sheets

Learn how to find a due date a set number of working days after an initial date in Google Sheets. 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 Google Sheets. How formula examples are checked

Quick answer: find a due date a set number of working days after an initial date in Google Sheets. 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 Google Sheets test results. A guide being published here does not certify every software release or file-import scenario.

Syntax and arguments

=WORKDAY(start_date, days, [holidays])

start_date is a valid date; days is the number of weekdays to move; optional holidays excludes additional days.

Best use case: Find a due date a set number of working days after an initial date.

Set up the example sheet

Consider a task starting Monday 1 June 2026 with a Friday deadline. Type the formulas in cells formatted as dates; using TEXT below gives an unambiguous yyyy-mm-dd check.

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: WORKDAY with known input

=TEXT(WORKDAY(DATE(2026,6,1),4),"yyyy-mm-dd")

Expected output: 2026-06-05.

Four working days after Monday are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; the start date is not counted.

Worked example 2: a second WORKDAY case

=TEXT(WORKDAY(DATE(2026,6,1),-1),"yyyy-mm-dd")

Expected output: 2026-05-29.

Moving back one working day from Monday reaches the preceding Friday.

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: If your team works weekends or uses a different weekend pattern, consider WORKDAY.INTL instead of assuming Saturday and Sunday are non-working.

Important edge case: Holidays are not automatically looked up from your location. Provide a verified holiday-date range for local public 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

Cross-program versions may expose different weekend-customization functions and holiday parsing; validate the result with a small known calendar.

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.

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.