# Power Automate: Add Days to a Date With addDays()

> For the full documentation index, see https://250highstreet.com/llms.txt

> Add or subtract days, weeks or months from a date in Power Automate. Covers addDays, addToTime, getFutureTime, formats and month-end results.

Use the addDays() expression in a Compose action. For example, addDays(utcNow(), 7) returns the date and time seven days from now.

## What is the expression to add days to a date?

Add a Compose action. On the Expression tab, enter addDays(utcNow(), 7), then select OK. The first value is the start date. The second value is the number of days.

To start from a date in your list, replace utcNow() with the dynamic content for that column. For example: addDays(items('Apply_to_each')?\['DueDate'\], 3).

## How do you subtract days from a date?

Use a negative number. The expression addDays(utcNow(), -30) returns the date 30 days ago.

You can also use subtractFromTime(utcNow(), 30, 'Day'). Both give the same result. Pick one style and use it in every flow, so other people can read your work.

## How do you add weeks, months or hours?

Use addToTime(). It takes a start date, a number and a unit of time: addToTime(utcNow(), 2, 'Week').

1.  'Second', 'Minute' and 'Hour' change the time of day.
2.  'Day' and 'Week' move the date by whole days.
3.  'Month' and 'Year' move the calendar date.

## What happens when you add a month to the 31st?

A month can be shorter than the day you start from. When you add one month to January 31, the result is the last day of February, not a date in March.

If you need a fixed gap, add days instead. addDays(startDate, 30) always moves by exactly 30 days. For a 'last day of the month' result, see [first and last day of the month](/guides/power-automate-first-and-last-day-of-month/).

## How do you change the date format of the result?

The default result is a long ISO 8601 text value, such as 2026-11-05T14:30:00.0000000Z. Add a third value to change it: addDays(utcNow(), 7, 'yyyy-MM-dd').

For a SharePoint date column, the short form yyyy-MM-dd is usually the safest. For local time zones and other layouts, read [formatDateTime and time zones](/guides/power-automate-formatdatetime-mm-dd-yyyy-time-zone/).

## How do you add working days only?

addDays() counts every day, including weekends. It has no option to skip them. To add business days, use a loop or a list of holidays. The guide on [adding business days to a date](/guides/power-automate-add-business-days-to-date/) shows the steps.

To find the number of days between two dates, see [days between two dates](/guides/power-automate-days-between-two-dates/).

## What is the difference between addDays and getFutureTime?

getFutureTime(7, 'Day') starts from the current time, so it is a shorter way to write addToTime(utcNow(), 7, 'Day'). It cannot start from a date in your list.

Use addDays or addToTime when the start date comes from a column. Use getFutureTime when the start is always now.

## FAQ

### Does addDays change the time of day?

No. The time stays the same. Only the date moves. Use startOfDay() first if you want midnight.

### Why is my result one day off?

utcNow() uses UTC. Late in the evening in the US, UTC is already the next day. Convert the time zone first with convertFromUtc().

### Can I add a decimal number of days?

No. addDays takes a whole number. For a part of a day, use addToTime with 'Hour' or 'Minute'.

## Sources

- [Reference guide to workflow expression functions in Azure Logic Apps and Power Automate](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/logic-apps/workflow-definition-language-functions-reference)
- [Custom date and time format strings (.NET)](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/standard/base-types/custom-date-and-time-format-strings)

## Related guides

- [Power Automate: First and Last Day of the Month](/guides/power-automate-first-and-last-day-of-month/)
- [Power Automate date shows wrong day or time](/guides/power-automate-formatdatetime-mm-dd-yyyy-time-zone/)
- [Add days or business days to a date in Power Automate](/guides/power-automate-add-business-days-to-date/)
- [Power Automate: Days Between Two Dates (dateDifference and ticks)](/guides/power-automate-days-between-two-dates/)

Source: https://250highstreet.com/guides/power-automate-add-days-to-date/