# Month Counter – Months Between Dates

URL: https://speedycalculator.com/calculators/everyday-life/month-counter/
Last updated: 2026-10-25

> The month counter works out how many months there are between two dates – as whole months plus days, decimal months and years and months – for leases, subscriptions, pregnancies or contracts.

## Inputs

- Start date
- End date
- Include end date

## Results

- Whole months
- and days
- Decimal months
- Years
- and months
- Total days

## Formula

```
Whole months = calendar months from start to end (the day of month must be reached)
Remaining days = end − (start + whole months)
Decimal months = days ÷ 30.44
```

## Explanation

Months differ in length, so "months between" is usually counted by calendar date: 15 January to 15 April is three months. Decimal months use the average month length of 30.44 days.

### How to use the Month Counter – Months Between Dates

- **Start date**
- **End date**
- **Include end date**

Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.

### How it works

Enter the start and end dates.

### Tips

- Check whether the end date should be included – event durations usually include it, elapsed time does not.
- Months have 28–31 days, so "one month" is counted by calendar date, not as 30 days.
- Use 24-hour time or set AM/PM carefully when entering clock times.
- Time zones and daylight-saving changes are not applied unless the calculator says so.

### Common mistakes to avoid

- Counting a 30-day month when a calendar month is meant (or the reverse).
- Forgetting leap years when counting days across February.
- Mixing decimal hours (7.5 h) with clock time (7:30).

### Inputs explained

FieldWhat to enterStart dateA dateEnd dateA dateInclude end dateChoose one: No, Yes (+1 day)

### What each result means

- **Whole months** = monthsbetween([Start date], [End date] + [Include end date])
- **and days** = [End date] + [Include end date] - addmonths([Start date], [Whole months])
- **Decimal months** = ([End date] + [Include end date] - [Start date])÷30.436875
- **Years** = sign([Whole months])×floor(abs([Whole months])÷12)
- **and months** = sign([Whole months])×mod(abs([Whole months]), 12)
- **Total days** = [End date] + [Include end date] - [Start date]

## Worked example

Inputs — Start date: 2026-10-25; End date: 2027-07-02; Include end date: No.

Results — **Whole months = 8**; and days = 7; Decimal months = 8.21; Years = 0; and months = 8; Total days = 250.

## FAQ

**How many months between two dates?**
Count whole calendar months, then the leftover days.

**How many days is an average month?**
30.44 days (365.25 ÷ 12).

**How do I count months for a lease?**
Usually by calendar date – a lease from 1 March to 28 February is 12 months.

**What formula does the Month Counter – Months Between Dates use?**
Whole months = calendar months from start to end (the day of month must be reached).