--- title: DiffMinutes slug: neurons-for-itsm/admin-user-help/enu/latest/diffminutes createdAt: 2026-07-14T19:16:28.360Z --- This function uses the whole interval method to calculate the difference in minutes. If you need to calculate the number of minutes using the boundary crossing method, use the [DateDiffSQL](docId\:FJ1ArQgI0-ebTa6hcTP3e) function instead. See [Date Functions](docId\:kQs_9ORcYlLvH63BbOyqv) for more information about using the whole interval method versus using the boundary crossing method. ## Syntax DiffMinutes(startDateTime, endDateTime, timeZone) ## Enabled For For a description of the business object categories, see [Notes on "Enabled For"](docId\:u26v9feCFs6iLwA0-PVJd). | Business Object Category | Yes/No | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------ | | Business Rules: Before-Save Rules | Yes | | Business Rules: Calculation Rules (After Save, with or without Also Recalculate on Load) | Yes | | Business Rules: Calculation Rules (Before Save or Always, without Also Recalculate On Load) | Yes | | Business Rules: Calculation Rules (Before Save or Always, with Recalculate On Load) | Yes | | Business Rules: Editing Rules | Yes | | Business Rules: Initialization Rules | Yes | | Business Rules: Read Only Rules | Yes | | Business Rules: Required Rules | Yes | | Business Rules: Validation Rules | Yes | | Client Expressions | Yes | | Object Permissions | Yes | | Services | Yes | | LDAP | Yes | | Mobile | Yes | | Quick Actions (except UI Quick Actions) | Yes | | UI Quick Actions | Yes | | Reports | Yes | | Search/Dashboard without field references | Yes | | Search/Dashboard with field references | Yes | ## Parameters | Parameter | Description | | ------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | startDateTime | The start date and time to be compared. | | endDateTime | The end date and time to be compared. | | timeZone | (Optional) The time zone, in IANA format.
This parameter is optional.  If you specify a time zone, the application assigns that time zone to both the **startDateTime** and **endDateTime** parameters. If you do not specify a time zone, the application uses the time zone associated with the current session. | ## Returns Value Number value. If the value of the** startDateTime** parameter is earlier than the value of the** endDateTime** parameter, the returned value is positive. If the value of the** startDateTime** parameter is later than the value of the **endDateTime** parameter, the returned value is negative. ## Example See the [DiffDays](docId\:CLx9joZphKEQN3DOiEIgZ) function for an example.