Excel Formula for Current Date: TODAY Explained

In Microsoft Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows, enter =TODAY() in a cell to display the current date. The date updates when Excel recalculates the workbook, so use a keyboard shortcut or paste a value instead if you need a date that will stay fixed.

What the TODAY formula returns

TODAY() is a built-in Excel function that returns the current date according to your computer’s date and time settings. It takes no arguments, so the parentheses stay empty. No cell layout is needed; enter the formula in whichever cell should show the date: =TODAY().

Excel stores dates as serial numbers and normally displays them with a date format. That means the underlying value can be used in calculations even when the cell looks like a written date. For example, a date can be compared with another date, or added to a number of days. If a cell displays a number such as 46100 instead of a familiar date, the formula may be working correctly but the cell is formatted as General or Number rather than as a date.

TODAY returns a date without a time of day. If you need both the current date and time, Excel has a separate function, NOW. The two functions are not interchangeable: TODAY is generally the simpler choice for due dates, date labels, and calculations based on whole calendar days.

How TODAY updates

TODAY is a volatile function: Excel can recalculate it when the workbook recalculates. It does not continuously tick forward like a live clock, and it does not permanently record the date on which the formula was first entered. If a workbook stays open across midnight, the displayed date may not change at the exact moment midnight passes; it changes when recalculation occurs.

Excel usually recalculates formulas automatically. In Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows, check the setting at Formulas > Calculation Options > Automatic. If calculation is set to Manual, a formula can keep showing an earlier result until you recalculate. Press F9 to recalculate formulas in open workbooks. On a Mac, the calculation setting is available through Excel’s calculation preferences; keyboard shortcuts can vary with the keyboard and macOS settings.

This recalculation behavior is useful for worksheets that should always reflect the present day, but it matters for records. A cell containing TODAY is a live calculation, not an audit timestamp. If the workbook is reopened next week, the formula will show next week’s date.

Format the result as a readable date

If Excel displays a serial number, select the cell and apply a date format. On Windows, use Home > Number Format and choose a date option such as Short Date or Long Date. You can also press Ctrl+1 to open Format Cells, select the Number tab, and choose Date or a custom format. On Mac, Command+1 opens Format Cells.

Choose a format that fits the worksheet and avoids ambiguity. For instance, 4/5/2026 can mean April 5 or May 4 depending on regional settings. A format such as 5 April 2026 makes the intended date clearer. To show a weekday as well, use a custom format such as dddd, mmmm d, yyyy in the Format Cells dialog. This changes how the date is displayed, not the underlying date value.

There is a difference between formatting a date and converting it to text. A date-formatted TODAY result remains usable in date arithmetic and sorting. A text version may be convenient in a sentence or heading, but it is no longer a numeric date for calculations. Keep the original date value in a separate cell when you need both a readable label and reliable date calculations.

Use TODAY in date calculations

Because Excel stores dates as day-based values, adding or subtracting a whole number moves the date by that many calendar days. With the formula entered in B2 and no other cells referenced, this example returns the date seven days after today: =TODAY()+7. To calculate a date seven days earlier, use =TODAY()-7. These calculations count calendar days, including weekends and holidays.

To find how many days have passed since a date recorded in A2, with A2 containing a valid Excel date, enter this in B2: =TODAY()-A2. For example, if A2 contains October 25, 2026, and the current date is November 2, 2026, the result is 8. If A2 contains a future date, the result is negative. Format the result as a number rather than as a date if Excel displays it unexpectedly.

TODAY is also useful for status checks. With due dates in A2 and the status formula in B2, this formula labels dates before today as overdue: =IF(A2<TODAY(),"Overdue","Not overdue"). It treats a due date equal to today as “Not overdue.” If your rule considers items due today overdue, use a less-than-or-equal comparison instead. Blank cells may need their own handling, since Excel can treat a blank like a zero in comparisons.

Show today’s date inside a sentence

A custom date format is usually best when a cell should remain a real date. If you specifically need a text label, and the formula is entered in A1 with no cell references, use =TEXT(TODAY(),"dddd, mmmm d, yyyy"). It can display a result such as Monday, November 2, 2026, depending on the actual date. The format codes control the words and numbers shown; they do not set the computer’s date.

TEXT returns text, which can affect later calculations, sorting, or date comparisons. For a report title, a printed note, or a sentence, that may be exactly what you want. For a date column that will be filtered or used in formulas, keep the result of TODAY as a date and apply a cell format instead.

Choose a live date or a fixed date

The key decision is whether the date should change in the future. Use TODAY when the worksheet needs to stay current, such as a dashboard that shows the date it is viewed or a list that flags deadlines relative to today. Use a fixed date when you are recording an event that happened on a particular day, such as the date an order was received or a form was completed.

Live date: Enter =TODAY() when the result should update through recalculation.
Fixed date by shortcut: In Excel for Windows, press Ctrl+; to insert the current date as a value. In Excel for Mac, use Control+;. The inserted date does not change the next day.
Fixed date from a formula: If a cell already contains TODAY, copy it and use Paste Special > Values to replace the formula with its current displayed value. Check that the cell still has a suitable date format.

A formula is not a reliable way to timestamp when someone edited a row: TODAY will recalculate, so it cannot preserve the original entry date by itself. For a one-time record, use a fixed date entry or a carefully designed automation process. In a shared workbook, make sure contributors understand whether they are entering a permanent record or a date that will keep changing.

Common problems and their fixes

The cell shows a number. Apply a date format through Home > Number Format or Format Cells. The number is usually Excel’s stored date value.
The displayed date seems old. Check whether calculation is set to Automatic, then recalculate with F9. Also check the computer’s system date and time settings.
The date changes unexpectedly. This is expected for TODAY when the workbook recalculates on a later day. Replace the formula with a fixed value if the date is meant to be permanent.
A formula appears as text. Confirm the cell is not formatted as Text and that the entry begins with an equals sign. Change the format to General, edit the formula, and press Enter.
A date comparison gives a strange result. Confirm that the compared cell contains a real Excel date rather than text that merely looks like a date. Regional date formats can make imported text especially easy to misread.

One common misconception is that TODAY updates every second. It does not; it returns the date at recalculation, and its result does not include the time. Another is that changing the display format changes the date itself. Formatting changes the appearance, while the stored value remains the same.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Excel formula for today’s date?
Enter =TODAY() in a cell. The formula returns the current date and updates when Excel recalculates.

How do I insert today’s date so it does not change?
Use Ctrl+; in Excel for Windows or Control+; in Excel for Mac to enter the current date as a fixed value. You can also replace a TODAY formula with its value using Paste Special.

Why does TODAY show a number instead of a date?
Excel stores dates as numbers. Select the cell and apply a date format using Home > Number Format or Format Cells.

Does TODAY include the current time?
No. TODAY returns the date only. Use NOW when you need a current date-and-time value, and remember that it also changes when Excel recalculates.

Will TODAY update automatically at midnight?
Not necessarily at the instant midnight arrives. Excel updates the result when the workbook recalculates, so an open workbook may need recalculation before the new date appears.

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Sources: Function behaviour and menu paths: Microsoft Support documentation for Excel. Method & sources

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