The NETWORKDAYS.INTL function in Excel is a powerful tool designed for users who need to determine the number of working days between two dates. Unlike the standard NETWORKDAYS function, this variant permits customization of day types, enabling users to define specific days as weekends. It is particularly useful in project management and payroll calculations, where accurate workday assessments are essential.

Syntax

NETWORKDAYS.INTL(start_date, end_date, [weekend], [holidays])

• start_date: The beginning date for the calculation.
• end_date: The concluding date for the calculation.
• weekend (optional): A code or string representing the days of the week that are treated as weekends. For instance, “1” denotes Saturday and Sunday as weekends.
• holidays (optional): An array or range of dates that should be excluded from the working days, considered as holidays.

Example #1

NETWORKDAYS.INTL("2023-01-01", "2023-01-15", 1)

In this case, the function calculates the total number of workdays from January 1 to January 15, 2023, treating Saturday and Sunday as weekends. The result is 10 workdays.

Example #2

NETWORKDAYS.INTL("2023-01-01", "2023-01-31", "0000011", {"2023-01-16"})

Here, the function counts workdays from January 1 to January 31, 2023, treating only Sundays as weekends and excluding January 16 as a holiday, resulting in 21 workdays.

Example #3

NETWORKDAYS.INTL("2023-05-01", "2023-05-31", "0000001", {"2023-05-30", "2023-05-31"})

This example calculates workdays between May 1 and May 31, 2023, with only Sunday considered a weekend. The holidays on May 30 and 31 are excluded, yielding a total of 22 workdays.

Error handling

• VALUE!: This error occurs when the input dates are not recognized as valid date values. Verify that the input format for dates is correct.
• NUM!: This error indicates that the start_date is later than end_date. Ensure that the start_date precedes the end_date in your function call.
• NAME?: This error occurs if the function name is typed incorrectly or if the version of Excel being used does not support the function. Double-check the function name and your Excel version.

Conclusion

The NETWORKDAYS.INTL function is a versatile addition to Excel, uniquely allowing for customized working day calculations. By adjusting weekend parameters and excluding holidays, users can tailor the function to fit various business requirements, ensuring accurate project timelines and efficient scheduling. This function enhances productivity in managing time-sensitive tasks and calculation needs.