compute the difference between two dates accurately

[Dilly]

Date360 gives an inacurate answer that over the course of 20 years can be
over a month. Is there an accurate way of computing the difference between
two dates?

 

[N Harkawat]

how about simply subtracting one from another
=B1-A1
where B1 holds the end date and cell A1 the start date

Why days360 unless you want to use 360 days per year convention.

 

[Peo Sjoblom]

=A1-B1

where A1 holds the later date and B1 the earlier date, format as general
DATE260 is an accounting function

Regards,

Peo Sjoblom

 

[Gord Dibben]

Dilly

See Chip Pearson's site for info on the DATEDIF Function.

http://www.cpearson.com/excel/datedif.htm


Gord Dibben Excel MVP

 

[Dilly]

Thanks but I tried that. for example: 2004/05/30 - 1986/06/24 returns
1917/12/06. actual answer should be 1917/11/06. it doesn't recognize zero
month.

 

[Dave Peterson]

If you just wanted the number of days, try formatting that cell as general.

 

[Dilly]

Thanks, but I need it in yy/mm/dd format. see gord dibben's answer below.