• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer

Excelypedia

The Excel Encyclopedia of The Internet

  • Tutorials
  • Functions
  • Formulas
  • Templates

How to Format Dates in Excel

July 23, 2021 by Andrew Childress
Format dates in Excel

Excel offers a plethora of options to format, display, and work with dates. Here's how to format dates in Microsoft Excel.

As you work in Microsoft Excel, you’ll find yourself using all types of data. Sometimes, this will include dates. Excel offers a plethora of options to format, display, and work with dates. These will vary depending on the needs of your project. But they share ease of use. Let’s learn how to format dates in Microsoft Excel.

How to Format Dates in Excel

By default, Excel sets cells to the General format. This is a flexible option that works well for many types of data. But if you’re working with a date, it’s beneficial to format the cell as a Date. This gives you an array of options for handling details like weeks, months, days, and more.

To get started, click into any empty cell in your workbook. Let’s imagine that you want to type a simple date: December 17, 2021, for example. In the cell, input:

12/17/21

Then, hit Enter on your keyboard. Excel will input the date, and automatically recognize it as such. Notice in the Cell Format dropdown on the Home tab that the cell format has changed to Date.

This, however, is only the beginning of your options. To explore more date formats, click on the Cell Format dropdown. From the list, choose More Number Formats.

Format dates in Excel

Excel will launch the Format Cells menu, showing the Date category. From the Type list, you can see that you have many choices. You can choose from long dates, short dates, and even dates spelled out with the day of the week included.

How to format dates in Excel

Plus, you can change the order and level of detail. For example, you can list the year first instead of last, or omit it completely. Choose your favorite date format, then click OK to apply it to your cell.

Excel date formats

As you can see, Microsoft Excel makes it easy to format dates to fit your exact specifications and the needs of your project.

Category: Excel FunctionsTag: Excel, How To, Instructions, Tutorial

About Andrew Childress

Previous Post:How to change orientation in ExcelHow to Change Orientation in Excel
Next Post:Text Effects in ExcelText effects in Excel

Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • How to Do a Contingency Table in Excel
  • Format Cell Alignment in Excel
  • Default Width in Excel
  • Translate in Excel
  • Switch Windows in Excel

Categories

  • Basics
  • Examples
  • Excel Formulas
  • Excel Functions
  • Excel Shortcuts
  • Excel Templates
  • Excel Tutorials
  • Uncategorized

Excelypedia

Master Excel to add a highly valuable asset to your employability portfolio. Learn how to analyze data in Excel.

    • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Learn

  • Functions
  • Formulas
  • Shortcuts

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Help

  • FAQ
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2023 · Excelypedia · All Rights Reserved

Back to top