by This tutorial demonstrates various ways of entering dates in Excel. See how to insert today's date and current time as static time stamp or dynamic values, how to auto populate a column or row with weekdays, and how to auto fill random dates in Excel.
There are several ways to add dates in Excel depending on what exactly you want to do. For example, do you want to enter a today's date in some report or invoice? Or, perhaps you want to insert a date in Excel that will update automatically and always display the current date and time? Or, maybe you want to auto fill weekdays or input random dates in your worksheet?
In a moment, you will learn all these and a few more date entering techniques. If you are curious to know how Excel stores dates and times, please check out part 1 of this tutorial - Excel date format.
How to enter a date in Excel
You can type a date in an Excel cell in a variety of ways, for example 1/1/2015, or 1-Jan-2015, or 1-Jan, or January 1, 2015. When you type something like that in a cell, Microsoft Excel knows you are entering a date and automatically applies the date format to that cell. Quite often, Excel formats the newly inserted date according to your Windows default date settings, but sometimes it may leave it exactly as you typed.
The most obvious visual indication that Excel has recognized the date you've entered is its right-alignment in a cell as opposed to left-aligned text values.
If Excel has failed to recognize your input as a date and you see it left-justified in a cell, try inserting a date in some other format close to your default short or long date formats. These formats are marked with an asterisk (*) in the Format Cell dialog window and you can quickly access them on the Excel ribbon (Home tab > Number group):
You will be able to easily change the date format later via the Format Cells dialog that opens on the Ctrl + 1 shortcut. For more details, please see How to change the date format in Excel.
Note. If a date you've entered displays as a number of pound signs (#####) in a cell, most likely the cell is not wide enough to fit the entire date. To fix this, double-click the right border of the column to auto fit the date, or drag the right border to set the desired column width. If this does not help, please check other Excel date format troubleshooting tips.
Tip. The fact that Excel automatically recognizes the entered value as a date may not always be what you actually want. We have some tips on how to avoid automatic data formatting.
Inserting today's date and current time in Excel
In Microsoft Excel, you can input the current date and time either as a static or dynamic value.
Shortcuts to enter today date in Excel (as a timestamp)
To begin with, let's define what timestamp is. Timestamping is entering a "static date" that won't change with the course of time or when the spreadsheet is recalculated.
So, if your goal is to enter the current date and/or time as a static value that won't automatically update the next day, you can use one of the following shortcuts:
- Ctrl + ; shortcut inserts the today date in a cell.
- Ctrl + Shift + ; shortcut inserts the current time.
- To enter the current date and time, press Ctrl + ; then press the Space key, and then Ctrl + Shift + ;.
Insert an automatically updatable today's date and current time
If you want to input today's date in Excel that will always remain up to date, use one of the following Excel date functions:
=TODAY() - inserts the today date in a cell.
=NOW() - inserts the today date and current time in a cell.
Unlike Excel date shortcuts, the TODAY and NOW functions will always return today's date and current time.
When using the Excel date functions, please keep in mind that:
- The returned date and time are not refreshed continuously, they are updated only when the spreadsheet is re-opened or re-calculated, or when a macro containing the function is run.
- The functions take the current date and time from your computer's system clock.
How to insert today date & current time as unchangeable time stamp
This section addresses a handful of comments that have been posted on this page with one and the same question: "What formula do I use to enter a timestamp in my Excel sheet without it changing every time the worksheet is reopened or recalculated?"
For starters, I'd like to note that I'm very hesitant to post this solution because it involves circular references, and they should be treated with great care. Anyway, here goes the formula…
Let's say you have a list of items in column A, and as soon as a certain item is shipped, you enter "Yes" in the Delivery column, which is column B. Once "Yes" is in there, you want to have the current date and time automatically inserted in the same row in column C as a static unchangeable time stamp.
To do this, we are going to use the following nested IF formula with circular references in the second IF function:
=IF(B2="yes", IF(C2="" ,NOW(), C2), "")
Where B is the Delivery column, and C2 is the cell where you input the formula and where the time stamp will eventually appear.
In the above formula, the first IF function checks cell B2 for the word "Yes" (or any other text you supply to the formula), and if the specified text is there, it runs the second IF function, otherwise returns an empty string. And the second IF is a circular formula that makes the NOW function return the current day and time if C2 doesn't have a value in it already, thus saving all existing time stamps.
If instead of checking for any specific word, you want the timestamp to appear when you put anything in the specified cell (that could be any number, text or date), then have the first IF function to check for a non-empty cell, like this:
=IF(B2<>"", IF(C2="" ,NOW(), C2), "")
Note. For this Excel circular formula to work, you should allow iterative calculations in your worksheet. Also, please keep in mind that there are many reasons not to use circular references in Excel, and if you decide to apply this solution in your worksheets, it's on your own risk.
How to auto populate dates in Excel
If you need to insert dates in a range of cells, you can let Excel "auto date" a column or row by using the AutoFill feature as demonstrated below or make a date sequence with formulas as explained in the above-linked tutorial.
Auto fill a date series that increases by one day
To automatically fill a column or row with an incrementing date series that increases by one day, you use Excel's AutoFill feature in the usual way:
- Enter your initial date in the first cell.
- Click on the cell with the first date to select it, and then drag the fill handle across or down the cells where you want Excel to add dates. (The fill handle is a small green square that appears at the bottom-right corner when you select a cell or a range of cells in Excel, as shown in the screenshot below.)
Auto fill weekdays, months or years
There are two ways to automatically populate the selected range of cells with weekdays, months or years.
- You can use the Excel AutoFill options as described above. When the range is populated with sequential dates, click the AutoFill Options icon and select the option you want:
- Another way is to enter your first date, right-click the fill handle and drag the fill handle through the cells you want to auto fill with dates, and then release it. When you do, Excel displays a context menu and you select the appropriate option from it.
Auto insert every 2nd, 3rd or Nth day
If you've tried a second solution described above, you probably noticed the Series option near the bottom, which provides a few more auto date features. One of them is inserting every 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. day, month or year in a worksheet. Let's try this now:
- Add the first date in some cell.
- Select that cell, right-click on the fill handle, drag it down or across several cells, and then release.
- In the context menu, click Series.
- In the Series dialog box, choose the appropriate Date unit and enter the Step value.
- Click OK.
How to inset random dates in Excel
Regrettably, Microsoft Excel does not provide an option to enter random dates automatically. Luckily, AbleBits Random Generator for Excel does :)
You simply select a range of cells where you want to autofill dates in a random order, and switch to the Random Generator's pane where you specify:
- Start and End date;
- What days to add - weekdays, weekends or both;
- To add only unique dates, check the Unique values
Then you click the Generate button, and have the selected range populated with random dates.
Apart from dates, the Random Generator add-in can auto fill your worksheets with numbers, Boolean vales and custom lists. If you think this is something that would be useful in your work, you can get it as part of our Ultimate Suite for Excel that includes 70+ time-saving tools and over 300 useful features.
Insert a date in Excel via a drop-down calendar (Date Picker)
If you are setting up a spreadsheet for other users, and want to make sure they enter dates right, it may be a good idea to insert a drop-down calendar in a worksheet. Your users will be able to fill in dates in a mouse click and you will be 100% confident that all dates are entered in an appropriate format.
If you are using a 32-bit version of Excel, you can use Microsoft's Date Picker control. For the detailed instructions, please see How to insert calendar in Excel (Date Picker control).
If you are using a 64-bit version of Excel 2016, Excel 2013, Microsoft's Date Picker control won't do. In this case, consider using one of the third-party calendars, for example our own one :)
For more options, please see third-party drop-down calendars for Excel.
This is how you insert date in Excel. I am hopeful these date entering techniques, shortcuts, functions and Excel auto date features have proved useful to you. Anyway, thank you for reading!
442 comments
How can I enter like this SATURDAY 01 JULY 2017 in excel 2007 with DATE FORMAT so that I can autofill the full month like SUNDAY 02 JULY 2017 MONDAY 03 JULY 2017
How do I enter all dates from today till say next 20 years or infinite years.
Hi,
When I am converting a date time column to the name of the day by using the custom dddd function, the column is showing the day name (like Wednesday) but it's reading it as the same date time (when I click on day name the top space is showing the date time. So, I am unable to separate weekdays and weekends as during filtering its showing numbers and not texts.
HOW CAN I CHANGE DATE & TIME AUTOMATICALLY WHEN I OPEN EXCEL SHEET ?
Hi Svetlana,
I have lists of people with their dates of birth, and I want a second column to automatically calculate their ages without having to update them all manually. Is this possible, and if so, how do I do it please?
Cheers
time should change automatically in excel. Any formula for that Action.
=now()
hi Svetlana Cheusheva
m vijay
i use excel spreadshit fir entering lots of nmbers and party names date etc can u tell me solution i want to ask
1. how to autofill when iinsert party name then pary pace automatically in next coloumn
2. if i save my document then can u tell me each time when i save documrnt then save other place in specific path and where i work in that current old sheet is there like previous means when i save document then its automatically save another place where i want but my current formate is there like privous
mail me solution
How would I go about having row 1 be double dates in series for as long as I drag, i.e. 1 June, 1 June, 2 June, 2 June, 3 June 3 June. So every 2 columns are the same date?
My excel inserted a row when I pressed CTRL +...OH WELL
Hi,
I want to link word file to excel is it possible if yes then ow it is possible i want to share data excel to word if its possible please guide me. Thanks
Greetings,
Hi would like to know from You
I Set date in my excel book and i want a formula that work with date for example
today 1-1-2017 and my figure is 100
next day when i open my log date will be 2-1-2017 and figure turn to 200 automatically.
Please help for this issue
Can I insert the start date of year in cell .. A1 then show me the end date of year in cell A2
Ex.
A1=1/1/2017 A2=31/12/2017
Hi All,
I am currently working a excel formula to input a Revision_Date in column A then it will auto generate the number of days per month(only weekdays) on column B(January), column C(February) and so on depending on the current date. Example if today is April 17, 2017 and my input in Column A is Feb 13, 2017, it will compute number of days from Feb 13 to Feb 28 (which is 12 days) to be generated on Column C(Feb). Then on March which is complete since it covers the whole month until today on Column D(Mar). Then comes to April to compute the days from April 1 to April 16 on Column E(Apr). Can someone help me as I am really not familiar with excel. Hoping someone can share any formulas/techniques on how to do it. Thanks in advance.
Hi, Gerry,
for us to be able to help you better, we need to see how the columns are named and arranged. Please, send us an example of your workbook with the source data and the result you want to get to support@ablebits.com.
Hi All,
I am currently working a excel formula to input a Revision_Date in column A then it will auto generate the number of days per month(only weekdays) on column B(January), column C(February) and so on. Can someone help me as I am really not familiar with excel. Hoping someone can share any formulas/techniques on how to do it. Thanks in advance.
I write a date in a column and want to automatic update of date when I open the sheet in next days. how can I do this.
Hi, vinod,
if you want the document to show you "today's date" (e.g. the date of your working with the file), try using the following formula:
=TODAY()
I generate reports on a daily basis, in cell AH60 I have =NOW() In Cell I56 i have =AH60 formatted to read yymmdd. What I want to be able to do is have it read yymmdd-### (ex.170331-001) with the number of my choosing to generate a report number. how can i add it. If tried to make it in the custom area but it keeps telling me its an invalid format...HELP!!! Please
Hi, Daniel,
unfortunately, custom settings won't help here, try using something like the following in the cell:
=TEXT(I56,"yymmdd")&"-"&ROW()
You can change the last parameter to make it return whatever you wish. Hope it will be of use!
Hi,
i want to create a form for multiple employee for stock inventory. so i want if any employee enter his emp.code than his last balance auto show in excel form and if he give material request then automatically calculate from his last available balance.
Can you help me please
Using the + (plus) symbol does not work. (I used the + symbol on my numeric keypad.) Rather, using the = (equal) symbol works fine.
How do you put the current (automatically updating) date in the footer of an excel document, not in numbers but in words (example March 24, 2017, instead of 3/24/2017)?
Hi Monae,
you will need a VBA code to do that, look for some answers on MrExcel forum.
Hi,
I tried your following formula but it returned 0/1/1900 0:00
=IF(B2="yes", IF(C2="" ,NOW(), C2), "")
Appreciate if you can point out where the problem could be.
Thanks and Regards
Hi, Sunny,
to help you with your task, we need to know what you entered into the cells. You can try to explain here in more details, or send us a small sample workbook with your source data and the result you expect to get to support@ablebits.com. Don't forget to add the link to this article and your comment.