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MONTH Function
Summary
The Excel MONTH function extracts the month number from any date value, returning an integer between 1 (January) and 12 (December). This is essential for date analysis, reporting, and conditional logic based on months.
Syntax
MONTH(serial_number)Parameters
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| serial_number | Date |
Yes | The date from which to extract the month. Use DATE function or cell reference containing a date. |
Using the MONTH Function
MONTH is perfect for categorizing dates by month in reports, filtering data by specific months, or creating month-based calculations. Use it with YEAR and DAY functions for complete date decomposition.
Common MONTH Examples
Basic Month Extraction
=MONTH(A2)Returns 4 for date 15-Apr-11 in cell A2.
With DATE Function
=MONTH(DATE(2024,12,25))Returns 12 for December 25, 2024.
Current Month
=MONTH(TODAY())Returns current month number (e.g., 6 for June).
Month from Text Date
=MONTH(DATEVALUE("15/4/2024"))Extracts month after converting text to date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Errors and Solutions
#VALUE! error
Cause: serial_number is not a valid date
Solution: Ensure cell contains proper date or use DATE function
#VALUE! with text dates
Cause: Dates entered as text instead of proper dates
Solution: Use DATEVALUE() or format cells as dates
Notes
- Excel stores dates as serial numbers starting from January 1, 1900 = 1
- Always returns Gregorian values even if date displays in other calendars (Hijri, etc.)
- Use with EOMONTH, YEAR, DAY for complete date manipulation
- Combine with IF for custom month logic
Compatibility
Available in: Excel 2007, Excel 2010, Excel 2013, Excel 2016, Excel 2019, Excel 2021, Microsoft 365
Not available in:
Content last reviewed: December 11, 2025
Update frequency: As needed
Excel versions tested: Excel 2007+