When working with dates in Google Sheets, it’s not uncommon to want to exclude weekends from your calculations or data analysis. This is particularly important in business settings where weekends are typically non-working days, and including them in your data can skew results or lead to inaccurate conclusions. In this article, we’ll explore the different methods for excluding weekends in Google Sheets, providing you with the tools you need to work more efficiently with dates and improve the accuracy of your data analysis.
Overview
This guide will walk you through three different approaches to excluding weekends in Google Sheets. We’ll cover the use of formulas, conditional formatting, and scripting to achieve this goal. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced user, you’ll find a method that suits your needs and skill level.
What You’ll Learn
By the end of this article, you’ll be able to:
- Use formulas to exclude weekends from date ranges
- Apply conditional formatting to highlight or hide weekend dates
- Write scripts to automate the process of excluding weekends
Let’s dive in and explore the different methods for excluding weekends in Google Sheets.
How to Exclude Weekends in Google Sheets
When working with dates in Google Sheets, it’s common to exclude weekends from calculations or formatting. This can be useful for various purposes, such as calculating workdays, creating schedules, or tracking business hours. In this article, we’ll explore different methods to exclude weekends in Google Sheets.
Method 1: Using the WORKDAY Function
The WORKDAY function is a built-in function in Google Sheets that returns a date that is a specified number of workdays before or after a given date. By default, the WORKDAY function excludes weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) and holidays.
To use the WORKDAY function, follow these steps:
- Enter the start date in a cell, say A1.
- In another cell, enter the formula: =WORKDAY(A1, number_of_days)
- Replace “number_of_days” with the number of workdays you want to add or subtract from the start date.
For example, if you want to add 5 workdays to the date in cell A1, the formula would be: =WORKDAY(A1, 5) (See Also: How To Create A Column In Google Sheets)
Method 2: Using Conditional Formatting
Conditional formatting is a powerful feature in Google Sheets that allows you to format cells based on specific conditions. To exclude weekends using conditional formatting, follow these steps:
- Select the range of cells that you want to format.
- Go to the “Format” tab in the top menu.
- Select “Conditional formatting”.
- In the “Format cells if” dropdown, select “Custom formula is”.
- Enter the formula: =WEEKDAY(A1) > 5
- Select the format you want to apply to weekend dates.
This formula checks if the day of the week is greater than 5 (Friday), which means it’s a weekend day. If true, the format will be applied.
Method 3: Using a Custom Formula
If you want to exclude weekends from a range of dates, you can use a custom formula that checks if the day of the week is a weekend day.
The formula is: =IF(WEEKDAY(A1) > 5, “Weekend”, A1)
This formula checks if the day of the week is greater than 5 (Friday). If true, it returns the string “Weekend”. Otherwise, it returns the original date.
Method 4: Using a Filter
You can also use a filter to exclude weekends from a range of dates.
To do this: (See Also: How To Go Back On Google Sheets)
- Select the range of cells that you want to filter.
- Go to the “Data” tab in the top menu.
- Select “Filter views” > “Create new filter view”.
- In the filter criteria, select “Custom formula is”.
- Enter the formula: =WEEKDAY(A1) <= 5
- Click “OK” to apply the filter.
This formula filters out dates that are weekends (Saturdays and Sundays).
Recap
In this article, we explored four methods to exclude weekends in Google Sheets: using the WORKDAY function, conditional formatting, a custom formula, and a filter. Each method has its own advantages and can be used depending on the specific use case.
By using these methods, you can easily exclude weekends from your date calculations and formatting in Google Sheets, making your data analysis and visualization more accurate and efficient.
Remember to adjust the formulas and methods according to your specific needs and requirements.
With these methods, you can now easily exclude weekends in Google Sheets and focus on analyzing and visualizing your data with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions: How to Exclude Weekends in Google Sheets
How do I exclude weekends from a date range in Google Sheets?
To exclude weekends from a date range in Google Sheets, you can use the WORKDAY function. The syntax for this function is WORKDAY(start_date, num_days, [holidays]). For example, if you want to find the date 10 business days from today, excluding weekends, you can use the formula =WORKDAY(TODAY(), 10).
Can I use a formula to exclude weekends from a list of dates in Google Sheets?
Yes, you can use a formula to exclude weekends from a list of dates in Google Sheets. One way to do this is by using the FILTER function in combination with the WEEKDAY function. For example, if you have a list of dates in column A, you can use the formula =FILTER(A:A, WEEKDAY(A:A) < 6) to exclude weekends.
How do I exclude weekends when using the DATE function in Google Sheets?
To exclude weekends when using the DATE function in Google Sheets, you can use the WORKDAY function in combination with the DATE function. For example, if you want to find the next business day after a specific date, excluding weekends, you can use the formula =WORKDAY(DATE(2022, 1, 1), 1).
Can I use conditional formatting to highlight weekends in Google Sheets?
Yes, you can use conditional formatting to highlight weekends in Google Sheets. To do this, select the range of cells you want to format, go to the Format tab, and select Conditional formatting. Then, select “Custom formula is” and enter the formula =WEEKDAY(A1) >= 6, where A1 is the top-left cell of the range you selected. Choose a formatting style and click Done.
How do I exclude weekends when calculating the number of days between two dates in Google Sheets?
To exclude weekends when calculating the number of days between two dates in Google Sheets, you can use the NETWORKDAYS function. The syntax for this function is NETWORKDAYS(start_date, end_date, [holidays]). For example, if you want to find the number of business days between two dates, excluding weekends, you can use the formula =NETWORKDAYS(A1, B1).