Job notices, exam applications and scholarships often have an age limit, written like “applicants should be between 18 and 35 years of age as at the closing date of applications”. Being even one day outside the limit can get an application rejected, so it’s worth checking your exact age properly, on the right date.

Check your age in three steps

  1. Open the free Age Calculator.
  2. Enter your date of birth.
  3. Change Age on this date from today to the date in the notice, usually the closing date. You instantly see your age in years, months and days.

Worked examples

Date of birthAge onExact age
20 May 200131 December 202625 years, 7 months, 11 days
15 January 199110 January 202634 years, 11 months, 26 days
8 March 20081 March 202617 years, 11 months, 21 days

Look at the second example: 2026 − 1991 = 35, so a quick sum makes it look as if this person is already 35. They’re actually still 34 on that date, because their birthday hasn’t come yet. The third person is a week short of 18. That’s exactly the kind of mistake the calculator avoids.

How the calculation works

Age is counted the same way it is on official documents: full years first, then the full months left over, then the remaining days. If you want to check it by hand, take the second example, 10 January 2026 minus 15 January 1991:

  1. Days: 10 − 15 doesn’t work, so borrow a month. December has 31 days, so it’s 10 + 31 − 15 = 26 days.
  2. Months: January (1) minus January (1), minus the month we borrowed, is −1, so borrow a year: 11 months.
  3. Years: 2026 − 1991, minus the year we borrowed: 34 years.

Result: 34 years, 11 months and 26 days. It works, but it’s easy to slip up, especially around month ends and leap years.

Mistakes that cost people their application

  • Using today’s date. The notice says which date counts, often the closing date or 1 January of the exam year. Use that date.
  • Just subtracting the years. As the example shows, that can be wrong by a whole year.
  • Mixing up date formats. 05/03/2001 is 5 March in Sri Lanka and the UK, but 3 May in the US. Check how the form wants dates written.
  • Leap-year birthdays. If you were born on 29 February, in other years your birthday is counted on 1 March.
Close to the limit?
Wording like “not more than 35 years”, “below 35” or “under 35” can be read differently. If you’re within a few weeks of the limit, read the full notice carefully and ask the institution before you apply.
Also handy for babies and anniversaries
The calculator also shows the total number of months, weeks and days. That’s useful for a baby’s age in weeks, or counting the days to a birthday or anniversary.

Common questions

Am I a year older on my birthday itself?

Yes. On your birthday you complete another full year. Someone born on 20 May 2001 is exactly 25 years, 0 months and 0 days old on 20 May 2026.

Can I calculate my age on a future date?

Yes. Set the 'Age on this date' box to any past or future date, such as an exam date or a closing date.

Is my date of birth stored anywhere?

No. The calculation happens in your browser and nothing is saved or sent.

What if I was born on 29 February?

In years without 29 February, your birthday is counted on 1 March.