How to Compare Dates in Excel: Simple Formulas and Examples

How to Compare Dates in Excel: Simple Formulas and Examples. In Excel, you can easily compare two dates using a simple formula that returns a TRUE or FALSE result. You can also use the IF function to display a custom message in the result.

1. In a new cell, enter the equal sign (=).
2. Refer to the first date cell (e.g., A1) using the equal sign (=) again.
3. Enter the comparison operator (e.g., >, <, =).
4. Refer to the second date cell (e.g., B1).
5. Press Enter to get the result.

For example, “=A1=B1” compares the two dates in cells A1 and B1 for equality.

Here are a few examples to help you understand date comparison in Excel:

1. To compare if one date is greater than another date, use the greater than operator (>) like this: “=A1>B1”.
2. To compare a date with today’s date, use the TODAY function, which returns the current date. For example, “=A5=TODAY()” compares the date in cell A5 with today’s date.