Current Date in Google Sheets: Formula, Settings & Tips

To show the current date in Google Sheets, enter =TODAY() in a cell. It displays today’s date according to the spreadsheet’s time zone and updates when the sheet recalculates; use a date-format setting if the result appears as a number.

The Google Sheets formula for today’s date

No input cells are required: enter =TODAY() in any empty cell. The function returns a date value for the current day, not a text label, so Sheets can use it in comparisons, calculations, sorting, and date-based rules. The displayed style depends on the cell’s number format: the same value might appear as 11/3/2026, 3-Nov-2026, or another date style.

The formula is dynamic. It is useful for a dashboard, task tracker, attendance sheet, or report that should show the date when the spreadsheet recalculates. It does not write a permanent date into the cell. If you open the file tomorrow, or its recalculation settings cause it to update, the displayed date can change.

For example, in a report heading you might place the formula beside text such as “Report date.” Keep the formula in its own cell if you want to format it independently or use it in calculations. A date formula is generally preferable to typing a date as text because Sheets recognizes the result as a date value.

How TODAY works and when it updates

TODAY is a volatile date function: Sheets may recalculate it when the spreadsheet changes or when a scheduled recalculation occurs. It is not a continuously running clock, and it may not change at the exact moment midnight passes. The displayed date reflects the value from the most recent calculation, which is why a sheet left open overnight may need a recalculation before the new date appears.

To review or adjust the timing, open File > Settings and select the Calculation tab. The recalculation choices include recalculating on change, on change and every minute, or on change and every hour. More frequent recalculation can be useful for time-sensitive sheets, but it may also cause formulas to refresh more often. For a simple daily date label, the default behavior is often sufficient.

In a shared spreadsheet, recalculation settings apply to the file rather than only to one viewer’s cell. If the date seems stale, first confirm that the file has recalculated and inspect the selected setting. Do not assume that TODAY updates in real time like a digital clock.

Format the result as a readable date

If the cell shows a number instead of a familiar date, the formula may still be working. Sheets stores dates as numeric values so it can perform arithmetic; the cell’s number format controls how that value looks. Select the cell and choose Format > Number > Date to apply a standard date display.

For a different style, use Format > Number > Custom date and time, then choose or arrange the date components available in the dialog. For instance, a month-name style can be easier to read in a printed report than a numeric date. Formatting changes appearance, not the underlying value: a cell formatted to show only a month still represents the date returned by TODAY.

Use a short numeric date when space is limited.
Use a month name where readers might confuse day and month order.
Choose a format consistent with the audience’s locale, especially in shared or exported files.

Set the spreadsheet time zone

The date a spreadsheet considers current is affected by its time-zone setting. A file set to a different region may roll over to a new day earlier or later than a viewer expects. This matters when collaborators work across regions, when a sheet is used near midnight, or when it supports daily logs and deadlines.

To check it, open File > Settings, then look under General for the spreadsheet’s time zone. Review the setting with the people responsible for the file before changing it: altering the time zone can affect how date-and-time values are interpreted throughout the spreadsheet, not just the TODAY cell. Locale is also available in the settings and influences conventions such as date display and separators.

Time zone and number format solve different problems. The time zone determines the regional context for current date and time calculations; the number format determines how a value is displayed. Changing a cell to a different date style will not correct a spreadsheet configured for the wrong region.

Dynamic date versus a fixed date

Use =TODAY() when the sheet should always refer to the current day. For a record of when something actually happened, a changing formula is usually unsuitable: tomorrow it will show tomorrow’s date, erasing the usefulness of the original entry. In that situation, enter a fixed date as a value instead of using a live formula.

In Google Sheets in a browser, the keyboard shortcut to insert the current date as a fixed value is Ctrl+; on Windows and ChromeOS, and ⌘+; on Mac. The shortcut places a date in the selected cell; it is not a TODAY formula. Keyboard behavior can vary with browser or keyboard layout, so Sheets’ Help > Keyboard shortcuts is a useful place to confirm shortcuts for your setup.

A fixed date is appropriate for a completed transaction log, a form submission date, or a date a task was actually finished. A formula is appropriate for a “today” indicator, an overdue calculation that should keep changing, or a report that should always show the day it is viewed. Consider whether the value should change later before choosing.

Useful date calculations and examples

No input cells are required for this example: enter =TODAY()+7 in an empty cell to return the date seven days from today. Adding a whole number to a date adds that many days. This can help show a follow-up date or a one-week reminder, though it does not account for weekends or holidays.

With a due date in cell A2, enter =A2-TODAY() in another cell to calculate the number of days between today and that due date. A positive result means the due date is in the future, zero means it is today, and a negative result means the date has passed. Format the result as a number rather than as a date if Sheets displays it in an unexpected date style.

These calculations update because TODAY is dynamic. If you are building a deadline tracker, decide how to handle blank due-date cells and completed tasks; otherwise blank or historical entries may produce confusing results. You can use conditional formatting to emphasize due dates, but check that the rule is based on actual date values rather than text that merely looks like a date.

Common problems and fixes

The cell displays a serial-looking number: select the cell and choose Format > Number > Date. The value may be correct but displayed with a numeric format.
The formula is shown as text: confirm that it begins with an equals sign and that the cell is not being treated as plain text. Re-enter the formula after changing the cell format if necessary.
The date is one day ahead or behind: check File > Settings > General for the spreadsheet time zone. Also consider whether the sheet has recalculated since the date changed locally.
The date does not change immediately: remember that TODAY is recalculated rather than continuously ticking. Check File > Settings > Calculation and allow a recalculation.
Dates sort incorrectly: some entries may be text rather than real date values. Consistent locale settings and date formatting can help, but formatting text alone does not necessarily convert it into a usable date.

When a date is being imported or pasted from another application, inspect a few values before relying on date arithmetic. Regional formats can interpret a sequence such as 04/05 differently, and a pasted string may not be recognized as a date. A clear month-name format or a consistent spreadsheet locale can reduce ambiguity.

Google Sheets compared with Excel

Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel both support the TODAY() function, and in both programs it returns a date that can recalculate rather than a permanent timestamp. The main differences for everyday use are the application’s menus, settings, and keyboard shortcuts. In Sheets, use File > Settings for spreadsheet time zone and recalculation options, and Format > Number for date display.

Excel has its own workbook and application settings, so do not assume that a Google Sheets menu path or shortcut is identical in Excel. When moving a workbook between the programs, check the time-zone expectations, date formats, and formulas after conversion. Dates may display differently under another locale even when the underlying date value is intact.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current date formula in Google Sheets?
Enter =TODAY() in a cell. It returns the current date as a date value and can update when the sheet recalculates.

Does TODAY update automatically at midnight?
It is recalculated according to the spreadsheet’s calculation settings; it is not a live clock. If the date remains stale, check File > Settings > Calculation and allow the sheet to recalculate.

How do I show today’s date without it changing tomorrow?
Insert a fixed date value rather than a formula. In a browser, the shortcut is Ctrl+; on Windows or ChromeOS and ⌘+; on Mac; confirm it in Sheets’ keyboard-shortcuts help if your setup differs.

Why does TODAY show a number?
Dates are stored as numeric values. Apply Format > Number > Date to display the value as a date.

Can Google Sheets show today’s date and current time?
Yes. The NOW() function returns the current date and time, while TODAY returns only the date. Like TODAY, NOW recalculates based on the spreadsheet’s settings and is not a continuously updating clock.

Try it: the Date Difference Calculator: days, months, years and weekdays between two dates, with the DATEDIF formulas.

More in How-to basics

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

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