TODAY

What it does

TODAY returns the current date and updates every time the workbook recalculates. It takes no arguments, but the brackets are still needed. Use it for ages, deadlines and "days since" that should always be up to date.

Syntax

=TODAY()

Arguments in square brackets are optional, and … means you can add more of the same. In this Excel language, arguments are separated by ,

Example

How do you show today's date in a cell, kept up to date automatically?

The formula in B1:

=TODAY()

Result: today's date

The cell shows the date the sheet was last calculated, so it changes on its own each day. Subtract another date from it to count the days since.

Common mistakes

• Expecting it to keep the date you first entered it. It always shows today; to stamp a fixed date, press Ctrl+; instead.
• Leaving out the brackets. TODAY without () isn't a function call.
• Seeing a number such as 46337 instead of a date. The cell needs a date format.

In other Excel languages

Excel translates function names, and in some languages the argument separator too. Type the name your Excel shows.

Practise it

• TODAY: the current dateModule 9 · Dates

More from this module

• DATE
• YEAR
• MONTH
• DAY
• WEEKDAY
• DAYS
• DATEDIF
• EOMONTH
• NETWORKDAYS

All functions