How to Subtract Two Dates in Notion: Top Tips!

Do I still have enough time to work on this project? If you’re strapped for time, you’d want to know how many days more before the due date.

If you’re using Notion, learning how to subtract two dates in Notion is a simple feat you can learn. You need only know how to add a database and input the correct formula.

How to Subtract Two Separate Dates in Notion 

Beginner Notion users would add separate properties for the “start date” and “end date” before inserting a “formula” date to subtract the two.

While it isn’t entirely a wrong process, this can be likened to the long method of getting the answer in a math equation.

After opening a new page in Notion and adding a database (whether inline or full page), follow these next steps.

1. Convert the “Tags” property into a “Start Date” property.

This “Tags” property is added by default whenever you open a new database. Instead of deleting this property, convert it into a “Date” property instead.

To do this, click on the “Tags” header and select “Edit Property.” 

Then click “Type” and search for the “Date” option.

Click it and then exit the “Edit Property” pane by selecting the “Close” button.

You should now see the new “Start Date” property on the database. 

2. Add the “End Date” property.

Do this by clicking the “+” button after the “Start Date” property. Then search for the “Date” option and click it.

Change the property’s name to “End Date” before clicking the “Close” button to exit the “Edit Property” pane.

You should now see the new “End Date” property added.

3. Add the “Formula” property.

This will serve as a property that will subtract the two date properties you added. 

After clicking the “+” button after the “End Date” property, search for the “Formula” property and select it.

You can then rename this new formula property to how you want it. For sample purposes, I named it “Days Between.”

4. Type the “dateBetween” formula.

you to do this, click the “Formula” option in the “Edit Property” pane. 

Then on the “Notion Formula” window, type this formula:

dateBetween(prop(“End Date property”), prop(“Start Date property”), “variable”)

Just substitute the names of the “End Date” and “Start Date” properties and the desired time unit in the “variable” part of the formula.

5. Click the “Done” button.

You can only click it (turn blue) if you have typed the correct formula. Otherwise, edit the formula you inputted.

The “Notion Formula” window then closes.

6. Set the start and end dates.

To do this, click on an empty cell under the “Start Date” and “End Date” properties. You will see a panel with a monthly calendar. 

Just click on the dates for both cells. 

Once done, you should now see the difference between the “Start” and “End” date “Formula.”

How to Subtract Two Dates in Notion with a Date Range Property

Now, if you don’t want to separate the start and end dates, you can use a “Date Range” property instead. It may seem tricky, but subtracting the two dates entails a similar process as when these two are placed in separate properties.

1. Convert the “Tags” property to “Date.”

Click on the header name of the “Tags” property and select “Edit property.”

Once the “Edit Property” pane opens, search the “Date” option and select it.” Rename it if you want.

Then exit the “Edit property” pane by clicking the “Close” button. You should now see the new “Date” property added to the database.

2. Select the “Start” and “End” dates.

Since there is only one “Date” property, you have to select two dates. 

Do this by clicking an empty cell in the “Date” property to make the calendar appear. Then select a date on the monthly calendar. This serves as the “Start Date.”

To add the end date, you have to click the toggle for “End date.” Once it’s activated, you should see a second date entry appear.

Click on another date on the calendar. This is now the “End Date” in the “Date Range” property. 

Then click anywhere outside the calendar panel to exit it. Now, you should see an arrow between the end and start dates in the “Date Range” property.

3. Add a “Formula” property.

This is the property where the difference between the two dates will appear. Simply click on the “+” button and select the “Formula” option in the “Edit Property” pane.

Rename the said property before selecting the “Formula” option to edit it. You should now see the “Notion Formula” window appear.

4. Type the formula for getting the difference in the “Date Range” property.

This is the formula you’ll type in the blank formula field:

dateBetween(dateEnd(prop("Name of Date Range property")), dateStart(prop("Name of Date Range property")), "variable")

Simply substitute the name of the “Date Range” property and the time unit you want to use for the “variable” part.

5. Click “Done.”

This button will only become clickable if the formula you typed is correct. After selecting it, the “Notion Formula” window closes, leaving you with the database.

You should now see the difference appear in the “Formula” property.

How to Subtract Two Dates in Notion With Only the Deadline or End Date Given

Subtracting two dates in Notion with only a deadline date can seem tricky. But the formula you’ll use to get this is simple as long as you provide the 3 arguments needed.

You can even use this as a birthday countdown timer instead of installing a separate countdown widget.

Granting that you have already converted the “Tags” property to a “Date” property (renaming it to “Deadline Date”), follow these next steps:

1. Click the “+” button.

You’ll find this after the “Deadline Date” property you added. The “Edit Property” pane then appears.

2. Select the “Formula” property option.

You can scroll down the “Edit Property” pane, but you can also type directly in the search bar.

Once you find that option, click it.

3. Click “Formula.”

You’ll find this after “Type” in the “Edit Property” pane. This then opens the “Notion Formula” window.

Then type this formula to get the difference between the deadline date and the current one.

dateBetween (prop("Name of Deadline Date Property"), now(), "variable")

You can do this with the “now” statement as the first argument, but this will yield a negative number instead.

Just substitute the name of the deadline property and the time unit for “variable” to proceed.

This formula only works though if the time isn’t specified in the “Deadline Date” property. 

You’ll know if the formula you typed is correct if the “Done” button turns blue and the difference appears in the formula field.

4. Select the “Done” button.

This closes the “Notion Formula” window. Then select “Close” to exit the “Edit Property” pane.

You should now see the difference in the “Formula” property you set.

Conclusion

Pretty simple. To subtract two dates in Notion, you only need to add the right formula to automatically get the difference. 

Whether you are tracking a project timeline or analyzing date-based data, knowing how to do this technique is handy. With practice, you’ll subtract dates in Notion effortlessly.