Excel TODAY Function (Current Date) – Examples & Practice
Practice the Excel TODAY function online with an interactive grid, instant feedback, and clear formula help.
Instruction
Return today's date using the system clock (no cell references needed).
Formula Syntax
=TODAY()
- (no arguments): TODAY takes no inputs.
What it does
TODAY returns the current date based on the system clock. It is useful for rolling calculations that should always reflect “as of today.”
Excel TODAY Function Examples
Today’s date
=TODAY()
Returns the current date from the system clock.
Days until due
=A2-TODAY()
When A2 is a future date serial, this counts days remaining.
date-calendar.xlsx
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Date | Offset Months |
| 2 | 2026-01-15 | 0 |
| 3 | 2026-02-28 | 1 |
| 4 | 2026-03-31 | -1 |
| 5 | 2026-07-04 | 2 |
| 6 | 2026-12-20 | 3 |
| 7 | Output |
Input Formula
Need Help?
Tips
- Store historical snapshots as values when you need a frozen date.
- Document timezone assumptions for distributed teams.
- Use DATE when you need a fixed calendar date literal.
TODAY Function Use Cases
- Rolling “as of” headers in reports
- Aging buckets for receivables
- SLA countdowns with simple subtraction
- Conditional formatting based on due dates
- Pair with EOMONTH for month boundaries
Common mistakes - TODAY function not working
- Expecting a static historical date from TODAY
- Mixing text dates with TODAY arithmetic
- Forgetting time zones in collaborative workbooks
- Using TODAY when a fixed cutoff is required
- Confusing display format with underlying serial
FAQ
Does TODAY include time?
No. TODAY returns the date serial only, with time treated as midnight.
Is TODAY volatile?
Yes. It updates when the workbook recalculates on a new calendar day context.
TODAY vs NOW?
NOW includes date and time; TODAY is date-only.
Can I format TODAY?
Yes. Use cell formatting or wrap with TEXT for display strings.
Why does my age formula drift?
TODAY changes daily; that is expected for rolling calculations.
Comparison
| Function | Returns |
|---|---|
| TODAY | Current date |
| NOW | Current date-time |
| DATE | Builds a date from parts |
Example
=TODAY()
Advanced examples
Month-to-date flags
Combine TODAY with EOMONTH and comparisons to label rows in the current month.