Calculate Date Difference
About Date Difference Calculation
This calculator computes the difference between two dates and times, providing results in multiple formats for your convenience. The calculation accounts for leap years, varying month lengths, and precise time differences down to the second. This tool is essential for project planning, age calculations, and any scenario where you need to know the exact duration between two dates.
Related tools: Use our Day Numbers calculator to find the day of the year, or check out our Week Numbers tool for ISO-8601 week calculations. For timestamp conversions, visit our Tools page.
The calculation accounts for:
- Leap years and varying month lengths
- Time zones (calculations are based on the dates/times you provide)
- Precise time differences down to the second
How to Calculate Date Difference in Programming
Learn how to calculate the difference between two dates (duration) in various programming languages, databases, and spreadsheet applications:
Spreadsheets
=B1-A1
-- Or with absolute value:
=ABS(B1-A1)
-- Returns number of days between dates in A1 and B1A1 and B1 should contain date values. The result is the number of days between the two dates.
Programming Languages & Databases
from datetime import date
date1 = date(2024, 1, 15)
date2 = date(2024, 3, 20)
delta = date2 - date1
days = delta.days
print(f"Days difference: {days}")delta.days returns the number of days as an integer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate the difference between two dates?
Enter your start date and end date (with optional time components) in the input fields, then click "Calculate Duration". The tool will automatically calculate and display the difference in days, months, years, hours, minutes, and seconds.
What time units are supported?
The calculator supports multiple time units including days, months, years, hours, minutes, and seconds. Results are displayed in all formats simultaneously for your convenience.
Can I calculate duration with time components?
Yes, you can include time components (hours and minutes) in your date calculations. Simply enter the time in the time input fields, and the calculator will include them in the duration calculation.