5 Ways To Get Previous Month In Excel

In today's fast-paced business world, managing dates and time periods is crucial for accurate financial reporting, forecasting, and analysis. One common task in Excel is to calculate the previous month, which can be useful for various applications, such as creating rolling reports, automating data updates, or performing periodic analysis. In this article, we will explore five ways to get the previous month in Excel, each with its own strengths and use cases.

The ability to easily calculate the previous month can help you streamline your workflow, improve data accuracy, and enhance your overall productivity. Whether you're a financial analyst, business manager, or simply an Excel enthusiast, mastering these techniques will take your data manipulation skills to the next level.

Method 1: Using the EOMONTH Function

One of the most straightforward ways to get the previous month in Excel is by using the EOMONTH (End of Month) function. This function returns the last day of the month, which can be adjusted to get the previous month.

The syntax for the EOMONTH function is as follows:

EOMONTH(start_date, months)

Where:

start_date is the date from which you want to calculate the previous month.
months is the number of months to add (or subtract) from the start date.

To get the previous month, simply use the following formula:

=EOMONTH(A1, -1)

Assuming the date is in cell A1, this formula will return the last day of the previous month.

Method 2: Using the DATE Function

Another way to calculate the previous month in Excel is by using the DATE function. This function creates a new date based on the year, month, and day.

The syntax for the DATE function is as follows:

DATE(year, month, day)

To get the previous month, you can use the following formula:

=DATE(YEAR(A1), MONTH(A1)-1, DAY(A1))

Assuming the date is in cell A1, this formula will return the same day of the previous month.

Method 3: Using the YEAR and MONTH Functions

You can also use the YEAR and MONTH functions to calculate the previous month. This method involves creating a new date by adjusting the month and keeping the year and day intact.

The syntax for the YEAR and MONTH functions is as follows:

YEAR(date) MONTH(date)

To get the previous month, you can use the following formula:

=DATE(YEAR(A1), MONTH(A1)-1, 1)

Assuming the date is in cell A1, this formula will return the first day of the previous month.

Method 4: Using a Formula with the TODAY Function

If you want to calculate the previous month based on the current date, you can use the TODAY function in combination with other functions.

The syntax for the TODAY function is as follows:

TODAY()

To get the previous month, you can use the following formula:

=EOMONTH(TODAY(), -1)

This formula will return the last day of the previous month based on the current date.

Method 5: Using a VBA Macro

If you're comfortable with VBA programming, you can create a custom macro to calculate the previous month.

Here's an example VBA code that calculates the previous month:

Sub PreviousMonth()
    Dim date As Date
    date = InputBox("Enter a date:", "Previous Month")
    MsgBox DateAdd("m", -1, date)
End Sub

This macro will prompt the user to enter a date and then display the previous month.

Gallery of Excel Date and Time Functions

We hope you found this article helpful in learning the different ways to get the previous month in Excel. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced user, mastering these techniques will enhance your data analysis and manipulation skills. Don't forget to share your thoughts and questions in the comments section below!