Syntax
=WORKDAY(start_date, num_days, [holidays])
start_date- The date to count from. It isn't counted itself.
num_days- How many working days to move. Negative numbers count backwards.
holidays- Optional. A range of dates to skip.
WORKDAY function in Google Sheets
WORKDAY returns the date that is a given number of working days after (or before) a start date, skipping weekends and any holidays you list. Use it for delivery dates, response deadlines and "N business days from today".
Practice WORKDAY
Task 1 of 2
Orders ship in 5 business days. Find the first order's ship date in C2.
Tip: while typing a formula, click a cell or drag across cells to insert references. Press Enter to check, and Tab to accept a function suggestion.
WORKDAY examples
Each example below runs against this sample sheet. The results are calculated by the same engine as the practice grid.
| A | B | C | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Task | Start | Due | Holidays |
| 2 | Kickoff | 1/5/2026 | 1/9/2026 | 1/19/2026 |
| 3 | Design | 1/12/2026 | 2/13/2026 | 2/16/2026 |
| 4 | Build | 2/16/2026 | 4/30/2026 | 5/25/2026 |
| 5 | Launch | 5/4/2026 | 5/29/2026 |
| Formula | Result | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
=WORKDAY(C2, 1) | 1/12/2026 | One working day after Friday the 9th is Monday the 12th. |
=WORKDAY(C2, 6) | 1/19/2026 | Six working days later. |
=WORKDAY(C2, 6, D2:D4) | 1/20/2026 | The same, but January 19 is a holiday, so it lands a day later. |
=WORKDAY(B4, -1) | 2/13/2026 | The working day before the Build start. |
=WORKDAY(TODAY(), 10) | Depends on today | Ten business days from today. |
Tips and common mistakes
- The start date itself isn't counted, so WORKDAY(Friday, 1) is the following Monday.
- Format the result as a date. Otherwise you see a serial number.
- For a different weekend pattern, Sheets has WORKDAY.INTL.
Related functions
Learning step by step? WORKDAY is covered in Lesson 42: NETWORKDAYS & WORKDAY of the free course.