Calculate the date a specific number of days ago from today using the calculator below.

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How to Calculate a Date a Specific Number of Days Ago

There are many situations where you may need to find the date a certain number of days before today for example, to check when an event occurred, track progress or calculate time between dates. You can determine this date in several simple ways.

The process is similar to finding a date a number of days from today, but instead of counting forward, you’ll be counting backward.

Method One: Calculate the Date Manually

You can easily find the date manually using a calendar. Start with today’s date, then move backward one day at a time until you’ve counted the total number of days you want to go back.

Be sure to move to the previous month when you reach the start of the current one, and keep in mind that months have different numbers of days. You can use our months to days converter to help if needed.

This manual method works well for small numbers, but it becomes time-consuming if you need to find the date hundreds of days ago.

Method Two: Use Spreadsheet Software

Spreadsheet programs like Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets can quickly calculate past dates.

  1. Enter today’s date (or any start date) in a cell, for example, A1.
  2. In another cell, enter the following formula:
  3. This subtracts 60 days from the date in cell A1.
  4. To find a different time span, simply replace 60 with any other number of days.
  5. If your date is stored in another cell, change A1 to that cell reference.
Formula: =A1 – 60

This method is reliable, especially when you need to perform multiple date calculations.

Method Three: Use an Online Calculator

The easiest and most accurate way to find a past date is by using an online tool like our Days Ago From Today Calculator.

Simply enter the number of days you want to go back, and the calculator instantly displays the exact date. It automatically accounts for different month lengths and leap years, so you always get a precise result.

If you’re calculating working days only, you can use our business days calculator to find the date a specific number of weekdays ago.