Dax Function: NEXTMONTH
Category: Time Intelligence Functions
The NEXTMONTH function in Power BI is a time intelligence function in DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) that returns a table of dates corresponding to the month immediately following each date in the current filter context.
Purpose of the Function
The NEXTMONTH function simplifies time-based calculations by providing dates from the month following a specified date or date range. It is especially useful for comparisons, forecasts, and sequential analysis of monthly trends.
Type of Calculations
- Identifies and isolates the next month’s dates relative to the current filter context.
- Facilitates month-over-month calculations or projections.
- Works with aggregations to compute metrics like revenue, expenses, or trends for the next month.
Practical Use Cases
- Monthly Revenue Forecasting: Analyze projected sales or revenue for the upcoming month.
- Trend Analysis: Identify changes or patterns in key metrics between consecutive months.
- Time-Based Reporting: Build reports that include “next month” comparisons.
NEXTMONTH(<dates>)
| Parameter | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
dates | Table/Column | A column containing date values or a table of dates. The function identifies the next month’s dates relative to the filter context. |
How Does NEXTMONTH Dax Function Works?
- Filter Context Evaluation: The function evaluates the current date range in the filter context.
- Identify Next Month: It identifies the month immediately after each date or date range in the context.
- Returns Table: The result is a table with the dates corresponding to the next month.
For example:
- If the current filter context is January 2025,
NEXTMONTHwill return all dates in February 2025.
What Does It Return?
The NEXTMONTH function returns a table with a single column containing all dates that fall within the month immediately following each date in the current filter context.
When Should We Use It?
- To calculate month-over-month changes or projections.
- For preparing monthly reports that require next-month data.
- In dashboards that need sequential month-based metrics or trends.
Examples
Basic Usage
Next Month = NEXTMONTH(Dates[Date])
Returns a table containing all dates in the month immediately following the dates in the Dates[Date] column.
Next Month Revenue:
Next Month Revenue = CALCULATE(
SUM(Sales[Revenue]),
NEXTMONTH(Dates[Date])
)
Calculates total revenue for the next month relative to each date in the filter context.
Advanced Usage
Month Over Month Change =
CALCULATE(
SUM(Sales[Revenue]),
NEXTMONTH(Dates[Date])
) - SUM(Sales[Revenue])
Computes the difference in revenue between the current month and the next month.
Tips and Tricks
- Combine with CALCULATE: Use
NEXTMONTHwithinCALCULATEto filter data and apply aggregations effectively. - Continuous Date Table: Ensure your dataset has a continuous date table for accurate results, especially for months with missing dates.
- Time Intelligence Integration: Combine with other DAX time intelligence functions like
PREVIOUSMONTHorDATEADDfor comprehensive analysis.
Pitfalls:
- Does not handle non-continuous date ranges well; missing months will lead to incomplete results.
- Ensure proper date formatting in your dataset.
Performance Impact of NEXTMONTH DAX Function:
- Large datasets with complex date ranges may impact performance. Optimize by indexing your date table.
- Avoid overloading expressions with nested time intelligence functions for better query performance.
Related Functions You Might Need
PREVIOUSMONTH: Returns all dates from the previous month relative to the filter context.DATEADD: Allows shifting dates by a custom interval, including days, months, or years.STARTOFMONTHandENDOFMONTH: Define boundaries of a month for more granular control.NEXTQUARTERandNEXTYEAR: Provide similar functionality for quarters and years.
Want to Learn More?
For more information, check out the official Microsoft documentation for NEXTMONTH. You can also experiment with this function in your Power BI reports to explore its capabilities.
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It returns all dates that fall within the month immediately following each date in the current filter context.
Yes, it is commonly used for next-month projections and analysis in forecasting models.
NEXTMONTH always moves forward by one month, while DATEADD allows for custom intervals (e.g., days, months, or years).
It may not provide accurate results if there are gaps in the date column. A continuous date table is recommended.
It returns a table with dates from the next month.
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