The TODAY function in Excel returns the current date, updating automatically each day. This makes it ideal for spreadsheets where the current date needs to be referenced frequently without manual updates.
What is the syntax of TODAY and NOW?
The functions are very easy to write.
- TODAY() returns the current date in a cell
- NOW() returns the current date and the current time
The functions TODAY and NOW are two functions essential in Excel.
Important Remarks
- Parentheses are compulsory even if the function doesn’t expect any parameter.
- Everyday the date will be updated. Avoid using TODAY() for static records like invoices, as the date will change over time.
- Automatically, cells with these functions will be formatted in date (or date and time)
- The shortcut Ctrl + semicolon (;) inserts the current date into a cell. But this date is static and will not update automatically.
When is it useful to use TODAY function in Excel?
- Real-Time Reports:
- In financial and operational reports, TODAY helps keep the information up-to-date.
- Conditional Formatting:
- These functions are useful to highlight dates relative to the current date.
- For example, you can highlight all tasks due within the next 7 days.
- Project Management:
- In project management, TODAY is essential for tracking project timelines, calculating end dates, and monitoring progress against the current date.
- Date-Driven Calculations
- Formulas often use it to calculate durations, deadlines, or aging of items based on the current date.
- For example, use the TODAY() function as an argument in the STOCKHISTORY function to collect historical stock quotations..
17/05/2021 @ 12:58
how did you get 57 under the gap column?
01/02/2022 @ 11:28
Try , b1 is 06/01/2019 minus b5 which is 06/11/2019.
13/04/2018 @ 23:54
How can I use =now() to show date and standard time, not military time?
17/04/2018 @ 05:02
It depends of the local setting of windows (regional format)
11/02/2018 @ 07:49
I need a formula that checks whether today’s date is at the beginning of the week or in the middle. I’m creating a weekly attendance sheet that’s being printed. Sometimes I need to print it in the middle of the week, and the sheet starts with that day’s name and date: What I have now is this (showing three cells of each)
=TEXT(WEEKDAY(C3;1);”dddd”) || =TEXT(WEEKDAY(E3;1);”dddd”) || =TEXT(WEEKDAY(G3;1);”dddd”)
TODAY() || TODAY()+1 || TODAY()+2
Can you help?
11/02/2018 @ 07:55
BTW, nice touch to use my computer’s settings to show the actual formula!