Formula Errors

How to Create an Excel Formula for Dates Every Fourth Column on Weekdays

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to generate a sequence of weekday-only dates across the top row of a spreadsheet, appearing exactly every fourth column.

Product: Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Creating a custom header row where weekday dates span every four columns.
Observed behavior: The user needs the correct formula setup and fill-handle technique to populate the row after entering the starting date in B1 and the formula in F1.

Before you start

Ensure your starting cell (B1) is correctly formatted as a Date rather than general text, and familiarize yourself with the WORKDAY function before dragging the formula across columns.

Solution 1Recommended

Enter the Formula and Drag the Fill Handle

The most direct way to generate weekday dates in specific columns using the standard fill handle.

Input the starting date

Select cell B1 and type in your initial starting date.

Enter the weekday formula

Select cell F1 (the fourth column after B1) and input the formula =WORKDAY(B1, 1). This ensures the date increases by one weekday, skipping weekends.

Format as a date

Right-click F1, select Format Cells, choose the Date category, and pick your preferred date format.

Drag across the row

Click and hold the small square fill handle at the bottom-right corner of cell F1, and drag it horizontally across the row to populate subsequent dates.

Solution 2

Fill Headers by Selecting Multiple Cells

Use this method to preserve the column spacing pattern if you need empty header cells or specific formatting in the intervening columns.

Solution 3

Troubleshoot Formula Not Working

Check these common issues if the formula fails to evaluate properly when entered in the formula bar.

Efficient Spreadsheet Management

Easily Manage Complex Date Formulas in WPS Spreadsheet

WPS Office provides full compatibility with standard spreadsheet functions, making it simple to manage date calculations, use the WORKDAY function, and drag-to-fill complex patterns flawlessly.

1. Open a new workbook: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open a new or existing workbook.
2. Enter the start date: Type your starting date in cell B1.
3. Apply the WORKDAY formula: Type =WORKDAY(B1, 1) in cell F1 and press Enter to generate the next weekday.
4. Drag to fill the pattern: Highlight cells C1 through F1, grab the fill handle in the bottom-right corner, and drag horizontally to apply the spacing.

100% compatible with Microsoft Excel formulas like WORKDAYIntuitive formatting tools for dates, times, and custom headersLightweight application that runs smoothly on any deviceAdvanced drag-to-fill features to handle multi-column spacing

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Excel function is best for calculating weekday dates?

The WORKDAY function is ideal for this scenario. By using =WORKDAY(start_date, days), the software calculates future or past dates while automatically skipping Saturdays and Sundays.

Why do my formula results show up as random numbers?

Spreadsheets store dates as sequential serial numbers. If you see a 5-digit number instead of a date, right-click the cell, choose Format Cells, and apply a Date format.

How do I skip specific holidays in my date formula?

You can add an optional third argument to the WORKDAY function for holidays. Use =WORKDAY(B1, 1, holiday_range), where 'holiday_range' is a list of dates you want to exclude.

Excel & Data Problems