DateTime.Subtract() Method in C#

Last Updated : 11 Jul, 2025
This method is used to subtract the specified time or duration from this instance. There are 2 methods in the overload list of this method as follows:
  • Subtract(DateTime)
  • Subtract(TimeSpan)

DateTime.Subtract(DateTime)

This method is used to subtract the specified date and time from this instance.
Syntax: public TimeSpan Subtract (DateTime value); Return Value: This method returns a time interval that is equal to the date and time represented by this instance minus the date and time represented by value. Exception: This method will give ArgumentOutOfRangeException if the result is less than MinValue or greater than MaxValue.
Below programs illustrate the use of DateTime.Subtract(DateTime) Method: Example 1: csharp 
// C# program to demonstrate the
// DateTime.Subtract(DateTime)
// Method
using System;
using System.Globalization;

class GFG {

    // Main Method
    public static void Main()
    {
        try {

            // creating object of DateTime
            DateTime date1 = new DateTime(2011, 1,
                                     1, 4, 0, 15);

            // creating object of DateTime
            DateTime date2 = new DateTime(2010, 1,
                                     1, 4, 0, 15);

            // getting ShortTime from DateTime
            // using Subtract() method;
            TimeSpan value = date1.Subtract(date2);

            // Display the TimeSpan
            Console.WriteLine("TimeSpan between date1"+
                           " and date2 is {0}", value);
        }

        catch (ArgumentOutOfRangeException e) 
        {
            Console.Write("Exception Thrown: ");
            Console.Write("{0}", e.GetType(), e.Message);
        }
    }
}
Output: 
TimeSpan between date1 and date2 is 365.00:00:00
Example 2: csharp 
// C# program to demonstrate the
// DateTime.Subtract(DateTime)
// Method
using System;
using System.Globalization;

class GFG {

    // Main Method
    public static void Main()
    {
        try {

            // creating object of DateTime
            DateTime date1 = DateTime.MinValue;

            // creating object of DateTime
            DateTime date2 = new DateTime(11119999, 1,
                                         1, 4, 0, 15);

            // getting ShortTime from DateTime
            // using Subtract() method;
            TimeSpan value = date1.Subtract(date2);

            // Display the TimeSpan
            Console.WriteLine("TimeSpan between date1 "+
                             "and date2 is {0}", value);
        }

        catch (ArgumentOutOfRangeException e) 
        {
            Console.Write("Exception Thrown: ");
            Console.Write("{0}", e.GetType(), e.Message);
        }
    }
}
Output: 
Exception Thrown: System.ArgumentOutOfRangeException

DateTime.Subtract(TimeSpan)

This method is used to subtract the specified duration from this instance.
Syntax: public DateTime Subtract (TimeSpan value); Return Value: This method returns an object that is equal to the date and time represented by this instance minus the time interval represented by value. Exception: This method will give ArgumentOutOfRangeException if the result is less than MinValue or greater than MaxValue.
Below programs illustrate the use of DateTime.Subtract(TimeSpan) Method: Example 1: csharp 
// C# program to demonstrate the
// DateTime.Subtract(TimeSpan)
// Method
using System;
using System.Globalization;

class GFG {

    // Main Method
    public static void Main()
    {
        try {

            // creating object of DateTime
            DateTime date = new DateTime(2011, 1,
                                    1, 4, 0, 15);

            // creating object of TimeSpan
            TimeSpan ts = new TimeSpan(1, 12,
                                     15, 16);

            // getting ShortTime from 
            // subtracting DateTime and TimeSpan
            // using Subtract() method;
            DateTime value = date.Subtract(ts);

            // Display the TimeSpan
            Console.WriteLine("DateTime between date "+
                               "and ts is {0}", value);
        }

        catch (ArgumentOutOfRangeException e) 
        {
            Console.Write("Exception Thrown: ");
            Console.Write("{0}", e.GetType(), e.Message);
        }
    }
}
Output: 
DateTime between date and ts is 12/30/2010 15:44:59
Example 2: For ArgumentOutOfRangeException csharp 
// C# program to demonstrate the
// DateTime.Subtract(TimeSpan)
// Method
using System;
using System.Globalization;

class GFG {

    // Main Method
    public static void Main()
    {
        try {

            // creating object of DateTime
            DateTime date = DateTime.MinValue;

            // creating object of TimeSpan
            TimeSpan ts = new TimeSpan(1, 12, 15, 16);

            // getting ShortTime from subtracting 
            // DateTime and TimeSpan
            // using Subtract() method;
            DateTime value = date.Subtract(ts);

            // Display the TimeSpan
            Console.WriteLine("DateTime between date"+
                             " and ts is {0}", value);
        }

        catch (ArgumentOutOfRangeException e)
        {
            Console.Write("Exception Thrown: ");
            Console.Write("{0}", e.GetType(), e.Message);
        }
    }
}
Output: 
Exception Thrown: System.ArgumentOutOfRangeException
Reference:
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Article Tags:
C#
CSharp-method
CSharp DateTime Struct

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