This month calculator, or month counter, is a simple tool to compute the precise number of months between two given dates. In case if the number of months between the two dates is incomplete, the number of days is given instead.
How to use the month calculator
- Set the starting date: Pick the day, month, and year you want to start the count from.
- Choose the ending date: Select the day, month, and year that will mark the end of your calculation period.
- Receive instant calculations: The calculator computes the total number of full months between the chosen dates.
Example: If you input January 12, 2024, as the starting date and January 12, 2025, as the ending date, the calculator will show that there are precisely 12 full months between these dates.
What is a leap year?
A leap year (also known as an intercalary year or bissextile year) is a calendar year that has one extra day added to keep the calendar year harmonized with the astronomical year or seasonal year.
Since the complete orbit of the Earth around the Sun takes approximately 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, 45 seconds, a calendar that has only whole days in it will drift over some time. By adding an extra day, the difference can be eliminated.
When is a leap year?
In the Gregorian calendar, most years that are divisible by four are leap years. In each leap year, the month of February has 29 days instead of 28.
Leap Year Algorithm
- If year is not divisible by 4 → common year
- Else if year is not divisible by 100 → leap year
- Else if year is not divisible by 400 → common year
- Else → leap year
For instance, 1700, 1800, and 1900 are common years, but 1600 and 2000 are leap years.
FAQs
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Which is the shortest month?
February. With only 28 days February is the shortest month of the year. This is also the only month affected by leap years. In leap years, February has 29 days instead of 28.
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How many months does a leap year have?
12 months. A leap year has exactly as many months as a normal year. The only difference is that the shortest month (February) has one extra day to synchronize our calendar year with the solar year.