MONTH Function
Extract month numbers from dates with the MONTH function. Learn syntax, examples, error solutions, and best practices for date analysis in Excel and Sheets.
Excel
Google SheetsExcelGoogle Sheets=MONTH(serial_number)Practical Examples
Basic Month Extraction
Extract month number from a simple date
Monthly Sales Analysis
Group sales transactions by month for reporting
Seasonal Pattern Detection
Identify seasonal trends using month extraction
Dynamic Month Comparison
Compare current month data with same month last year
Fiscal Month Adjustment
Convert calendar month to fiscal month (fiscal year starts April)
Month Name Conversion
Convert month number to month name
Birthday Month Reminder System
Create alerts for birthdays in the current month
Common Errors and Solutions
MONTH returns #VALUE! error
The input is not recognized as a valid date. This often happens with text that looks like a date but isn't properly formatted.
1. Check if the cell contains a valid date format 2. Use DATEVALUE to convert text dates: =MONTH(DATEVALUE(A1)) 3. Ensure dates are not formatted as text (left-aligned) 4. Verify regional date settings match your data
Always validate date formats before applying MONTH. Use the ISNUMBER function to check if Excel recognizes the date.
Example:
MONTH returns 1 for blank or zero cells
In Excel, blank cells are interpreted as date serial number 0, which represents January 0, 1900.
1. Add a blank check: =IF(ISBLANK(A1), "", MONTH(A1)) 2. Use conditional logic to handle empty cells 3. Filter out blank cells before processing 4. Use data validation to prevent blank date entries
Always check for blank cells when processing date columns, especially in large datasets.
Example:
Excel doesn't recognize MONTH function
Function name is misspelled, or there's a syntax error in the formula.
1. Check spelling - should be MONTH, not MONTHS 2. Ensure no extra spaces in function name 3. Verify parentheses are balanced 4. Check if Analysis ToolPak is enabled (rare cases)
Use Excel's formula autocomplete feature to avoid typos.
Example:
MONTH returns incorrect month number
Date format confusion between MM/DD/YYYY and DD/MM/YYYY formats, especially with ambiguous dates like 3/4/2025.
1. Check regional settings in Excel/Sheets 2. Use DATE function for unambiguous dates: =MONTH(DATE(2025,3,15)) 3. Standardize date input format across your spreadsheet 4. Use text-to-columns to properly convert date formats
Establish clear date format standards for your organization and use DATE function when possible.
Example:
Best Practices and Advanced Tips
Use MONTH with EOMONTH to find the last day of any month: =EOMONTH(DATE(2025,MONTH(A1),1),0). This is perfect for monthly closing dates, payment schedules, or deadline calculations.
Build dynamic reports that automatically update based on the current month using =MONTH(TODAY()). Combine with SUMIFS or FILTER for automated monthly reporting that requires no manual updates.
Remember that MONTH cannot directly process dates stored as text. Always verify your date columns are properly formatted. Use TYPE function to check: TYPE(A1) should return 1 for numbers/dates, not 2 for text.
In Excel 365 and Google Sheets, use array formulas to process entire columns at once: =MONTH(A2:A100). This is much faster than copying formulas down and automatically adjusts when new data is added.
Convert months to quarters using this formula: =ROUNDUP(MONTH(A1)/3,0). This returns 1 for Q1 (Jan-Mar), 2 for Q2 (Apr-Jun), 3 for Q3 (Jul-Sep), and 4 for Q4 (Oct-Dec).
When working with international teams, be explicit about date formats. Use the DATE function with MONTH to ensure consistency: =DATE(2025, MONTH(A1), 15) always creates a date with the extracted month, regardless of regional settings.
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Example Excel formula:
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