TODAY and date basics in Excel
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TODAY returns the current date and updates every time the workbook recalculates. For example, =TODAY()-C2 gives the number of days since the invoice date in C2. Excel stores every date as a number of days, so you can add days to a date or subtract one date from another.
TODAY syntax
=TODAY()
- (none)
- TODAY takes no arguments, but the empty parentheses are required:
=TODAY(). - DATE(year, month, day)
- Builds a date from three numbers, for example
=DATE(2025,3,12). A month of 13 rolls over to January of the next year. - YEAR, MONTH, DAY(date)
- Return one part of a date as a number:
=YEAR(B2)gives 2025,=MONTH(B2)3 and=DAY(B2)12 for March 12, 2025.
Practice TODAY and dates here
Type your formula straight into the sheet. It’s checked like real Excel, and you can write it with commas or semicolons.
Show today’s date
In B1, show today’s date with the TODAY function, so the report always carries the current date.
| Report date |
How to use TODAY and dates, step by step
- Click the cell for the result and type
=TODAY(), then press Enter. The cell shows today’s date. - To move a date forward, add a number of days:
=B2+30is 30 days after the date in B2. - To count the days between two dates, subtract the earlier one:
=TODAY()-C2. - If a result shows as a date when you expected a number (or the reverse), change the cell’s number format to General or Short Date.
TODAY and date examples
Today’s date
=TODAY()
Shows the current date and changes on its own every day.
Due date in 30 days
=B2+C2
An invoice from March 12, 2025 with 30-day terms is due April 11, 2025.
Days since an invoice
=TODAY()-C2
The number of days the invoice has been open, growing by one each day.
Same day next year
=DATE(YEAR(B2)+1,MONTH(B2),DAY(B2))
February 15, 2024 renews on February 15, 2025.
Common date errors and how to fix them
| Error | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| #VALUE! | The cell you add to or subtract from holds text Excel can’t read as a date, for example a date pasted from another system. | Turn it into a real date (it aligns to the right), or build it with DATE(year,month,day). |
| #NAME? | The function name is misspelled, for example =TODAY without parentheses or =TODAYS(). | Type =TODAY() with the empty parentheses. |
| ##### | The column is too narrow to show the whole date, or the result is a negative date. | Widen the column. If the date is negative, check which date you subtract from which. |
| 1/22/1900 | A number of days took the date format of the cells it was calculated from. | Set the cell’s number format to General or Number to see the days, here 22. |
TODAY vs NOW and typed dates
TODAY returns the date only, while NOW also returns the current time, as a fraction of a day. Both are volatile: they change every time the workbook recalculates, so a report built on them shows different numbers tomorrow. When a date must stay fixed, such as the date an invoice was sent, type the date in the cell instead. DATE builds a date from a year, a month and a day, which is safer than typing a text date, because text is read differently depending on the regional settings.
Frequently asked questions
How do I stop TODAY from changing?
TODAY always shows the current date. To keep a fixed date, type the date itself, or copy the cell and paste it as values.
How do I count the days until a deadline?
Subtract today from the deadline: =C2-TODAY(). The result is negative once the deadline has passed.
Why does my date show as a number?
Because Excel stores dates as numbers of days since January 1, 1900. Apply the Short Date format to see it as a date again.
How do I calculate an age from TODAY?
Use =DATEDIF(B2,TODAY(),"Y"), with the date of birth in B2. It counts full years and updates every day.
Keep practising
All 5 TODAY and date exercises, with explanations and progress tracking.
Open the TODAY practice set