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Calculates the number of days in the coupon period that contains the settlement date

What is the COUPDAYS Function?

The COUPDAYS Function is categorized under financial functions. It helps calculate the number of days in the coupon period that contains the settlement date. Coupon bonds are bonds that pay interest before the maturity of the bond.

As a bond purchaser, we will be interested in knowing how long we need to wait until we receive our first interest payment. The COUPDAYS function helps in calculating the number of days between a coupon period’s beginning and settlement date.



=COUPDAYS(settlement, maturity, frequency, [basis])


The COUPDAYS function uses the following arguments:

  4. Basis (optional argument) – It specifies the day count basis to be used. It uses one of the following values:


BasisDay Count basis
0 or omittedUS(NASD) 30/360
4European 30/360



How to use COUPDAYS Function in Excel?

To understand the uses of the COUPDAYS function, let’s consider a few examples:


Example 1

Let’s see how the COUPDAYS function works when are given the following data:




Additionally, we are told that 2 payments are made per year.

Using the formula =COUPDAYS(C5,C6,C7), we get the result of 180. We left the basis as 0 so the function used the US 30/360 as count days.


COUPDAYS Function - Example 1


Example 2



COUPDAYS Function - Example 2


As we need to find the number of days using the function, we need to first convert the dates given into text format.

The formula to be used would be =COUPDAYS(DATE(2017,1,31),DATE(2022,2,25),1,2).

The result we get here is 360. Excel first converted the dates in text format into proper dates and then calculated the number of days.


COUPDAYS Function - Example 2a


Few notes about the COUPDAYS Function

    • When the given settlement date or maturity date is not a valid date. Remember that we need to enter dates in date format or else use the DATE function to convert them into a proper date format. The function doesn’t work when dates given are in text format. For example, =COUPDAYS(“1/25/2023″,”11/15/2024”,2,1) = #VALUE.
    • Any of the arguments given are non-numeric.
  3. The COUPDAYS function truncates all arguments to integers.


Click here to download the sample Excel file


Additional resources

Thanks for reading CFI’s guide to the COUPDAYS Excel function. By taking the time to learn and master Excel functions, you’ll significantly speed up your financial analysis. To learn more, check out these additional CFI resources:

  • Excel Functions for Finance
  • Advanced Excel Formulas Course
  • Advanced Excel Formulas You Must Know
  • Excel Shortcuts for PC and Mac

Free Excel Tutorial


