Master the TODAY Function: Automatically Insert Current Date in Excel
=TODAY()The TODAY() function is one of Excel's most essential date functions, designed to automatically return the current date in your spreadsheet. Unlike static dates that remain unchanged, TODAY() dynamically updates every time you open or recalculate your workbook, making it invaluable for time-sensitive business applications. Whether you're tracking project deadlines, calculating employee tenure, generating reports with current timestamps, or managing inventory with date-based workflows, the TODAY() function provides a reliable, zero-parameter solution that requires no manual updates. This beginner-friendly function has been a cornerstone of Excel since version 2007 and remains virtually unchanged across all modern versions, including Excel 365. Its simplicity belies its power—TODAY() eliminates the need for manual date entry and ensures your spreadsheets always reflect the current date, reducing errors and improving data accuracy. Understanding how to implement TODAY() effectively can significantly streamline your workflow and create more dynamic, maintenance-free spreadsheets.
Syntax & Parameters
The TODAY() function has an elegant simplicity: it requires no parameters whatsoever. The complete syntax is simply =TODAY(), with empty parentheses. This zero-argument design makes it exceptionally user-friendly compared to other date functions. When you enter =TODAY() into any cell, Excel immediately calculates and displays today's date in the default date format of your system (typically MM/DD/YYYY in the United States or DD/MM/YYYY in European locales). The returned value is a serial number representing the date, though Excel automatically formats it as a readable date. One critical aspect to understand is that TODAY() is a volatile function—it recalculates every time your workbook recalculates, meaning the date will update automatically each day without any manual intervention. This automatic recalculation occurs whenever you open the file, press F9, or modify any cell in the workbook. Unlike the NOW() function which includes time information, TODAY() returns only the date portion at midnight (00:00:00). The function respects your system's regional settings for date formatting, so the display format may vary depending on your computer's locale settings. For consistent results across different regional configurations, you may want to explicitly format the cell or use supplementary functions to ensure uniform date presentation.
Practical Examples
Employee Tenure Calculation
=TODAY()-B2This formula subtracts the hire date in cell B2 from today's date, automatically calculating the number of days the employee has been with the company. The result updates daily without manual intervention, providing always-current tenure information.
Invoice Due Date Reminder
=IF(TODAY()-A2>30,"OVERDUE","OK")This formula checks if the difference between today's date and the invoice date exceeds 30 days. If true, it displays 'OVERDUE' in red, otherwise shows 'OK'. This creates an automatic alert system that updates daily.
Project Status Report with Current Date Header
="Project Status Report - "&TODAY()This formula concatenates text with the TODAY() function, creating a dynamic header that displays the current date. Every time the report is opened, the date automatically updates to reflect the current day.
Key Takeaways
- TODAY() is a zero-parameter function that automatically returns the current date and updates daily without manual intervention
- The function is volatile and recalculates whenever your workbook recalculates, ensuring dates always reflect the current day
- TODAY() returns only the date portion (unlike NOW() which includes time), making it ideal for date-based calculations and comparisons
- Use TODAY() in conditional logic, calculations, and text concatenation to create dynamic, self-updating spreadsheets that require minimal maintenance
- TODAY() respects your system's regional date format settings, so display format may vary by locale
Pro Tips
Use Ctrl+; (semicolon) as a keyboard shortcut to quickly insert TODAY() into a cell without typing the full formula. This is faster than typing =TODAY() and works in most Excel versions.
Impact : Saves time during data entry and reduces typing errors when you need to insert today's date multiple times in a spreadsheet.
Combine TODAY() with WEEKDAY() to create automatic day-of-week calculations: =TEXT(TODAY(),"dddd") displays the full day name (Monday, Tuesday, etc.) that updates daily.
Impact : Creates more readable reports and helps identify weekends or specific business days without manual updates.
When sharing workbooks with others, remember that TODAY() uses each recipient's system date, not the date the file was created. If you need a fixed reference date, document it separately or use a static date value.
Impact : Prevents confusion when collaborating on files and ensures everyone understands whether dates are dynamic or fixed.
For performance-critical spreadsheets with thousands of cells, minimize volatile functions like TODAY(). Consider using VBA or Power Query to update dates at specific intervals rather than recalculating on every change.
Impact : Improves spreadsheet performance and responsiveness in large, complex workbooks with extensive formulas.
Useful Combinations
Calculate Age from Birth Date
=INT((TODAY()-B2)/365.25)This combination uses TODAY() to subtract a birth date, then divides by 365.25 (accounting for leap years) and uses INT() to round down to whole years. This calculates precise age in years that updates automatically each birthday.
Days Until Project Deadline
=IF(C2-TODAY()>0,C2-TODAY(),"OVERDUE")This formula subtracts TODAY() from a deadline date in C2. If the result is positive, it shows days remaining; if negative or zero, it displays 'OVERDUE'. Creates a dynamic countdown that updates daily.
Generate Fiscal Year Label
="FY"&IF(MONTH(TODAY())>=7,YEAR(TODAY())+1,YEAR(TODAY()))This combines TODAY() with IF and MONTH functions to automatically generate fiscal year labels. If the current month is July or later, it increments the year, useful for organizations with July-June fiscal years.
Common Errors
Cause: This error occurs when you misspell the function name, such as =TOADY() or =TOD() instead of =TODAY(). Excel doesn't recognize the misspelled command and returns a name error.
Solution: Double-check your formula spelling. The correct syntax is =TODAY() with all letters capitalized (though lowercase works too). Use Excel's formula autocomplete feature by typing =TO to help ensure correct spelling.
Cause: While TODAY() itself rarely produces this error, it occurs when TODAY() is used in mathematical operations with text values, such as =TODAY()-"January 1, 2024" where the text isn't recognized as a date.
Solution: Ensure all values used in calculations with TODAY() are formatted as actual dates, not text. Use the DATE function to convert text to proper date values: =TODAY()-DATE(2024,1,1)
Cause: This occurs when you accidentally enter a static date instead of the TODAY() formula, or when the file is set to 'Manual' calculation mode. The date appears correct but doesn't change daily.
Solution: Verify the cell contains =TODAY() by clicking it and checking the formula bar. If needed, press Ctrl+Shift+F9 to force recalculation. Check that calculation mode is set to 'Automatic' under Formulas tab > Calculation Options.
Troubleshooting Checklist
- 1.Verify the formula bar shows =TODAY() (not a static date like 3/15/2024) when you click the cell
- 2.Check that the cell is formatted as 'Date' category in Format Cells dialog (right-click > Format Cells > Date tab)
- 3.Confirm calculation mode is set to 'Automatic' under Formulas tab > Calculation Options in the ribbon
- 4.Press Ctrl+Shift+F9 to force full workbook recalculation if the date appears outdated
- 5.Verify your system date is correct by checking your computer's clock and date settings
- 6.Test in a new blank cell to determine if the issue is formula-specific or workbook-wide
Edge Cases
Using TODAY() in a file that's closed and reopened on different days
Behavior: The TODAY() formula will automatically update to reflect the new current date when the file is reopened. A formula that was 3/15/2024 yesterday will show 3/16/2024 today.
Solution: This is expected behavior. If you need to preserve a specific date, convert the formula to a value using Paste Special > Values only.
This is actually the intended design and not a problem, but users sometimes expect dates to remain static.
TODAY() used in a file saved with Calculation Mode set to Manual
Behavior: The TODAY() formula will not update until you manually trigger recalculation by pressing F9 or Ctrl+Shift+F9, even though the system date has changed.
Solution: Switch calculation mode to Automatic (Formulas tab > Calculation Options > Automatic) or manually press F9 to update TODAY() values.
Manual calculation mode is sometimes used in large workbooks for performance reasons, but it prevents TODAY() from updating automatically.
TODAY() in a formula that's copied to a file on a computer with a different regional date format setting
Behavior: The formula works correctly, but the display format of the date changes to match the recipient's regional settings. A date showing as 3/15/2024 (MM/DD/YYYY) might display as 15/3/2024 (DD/MM/YYYY) on a European computer.
Solution: Use the TEXT() function to enforce a specific date format: =TEXT(TODAY(),"mm/dd/yyyy") ensures consistent display regardless of regional settings.
The underlying date value is identical; only the display format changes based on locale settings.
Limitations
- •TODAY() is volatile and recalculates on every workbook recalculation, which can impact performance in extremely large spreadsheets with thousands of formulas. Consider using static dates or VBA for performance-critical applications.
- •TODAY() returns only the date at midnight (00:00:00) without time precision. For applications requiring exact timestamps to the second, use NOW() instead or implement VBA solutions.
- •TODAY() uses the system date from the computer where the file is open, not a server date or UTC time. This can cause discrepancies if files are accessed across different time zones or if system clocks are incorrect.
- •Once a file containing TODAY() is saved, there's no built-in way to 'freeze' the date without converting formulas to values, which removes the dynamic updating capability. Users must choose between dynamic dates or static preservation.
Alternatives
Returns both the current date and time with precision to the second, providing more detailed timestamp information than TODAY()
When: Use NOW() when you need to track exact times for events, create time-stamped logs, or calculate durations that include hours and minutes. Ideal for time-tracking applications and real-time monitoring.
Provides explicit control over year, month, and day values, allowing you to construct specific dates or modify date components programmatically
When: Use when you need to create dates from separate year, month, and day values, or when you need to manipulate date components. Example: =DATE(2024,3,15) creates March 15, 2024.
These functions calculate dates relative to TODAY() by adding months or finding end-of-month dates, providing more complex date arithmetic than TODAY() alone
When: Use EDATE(TODAY(),3) to calculate a date 3 months from today, or EOMONTH(TODAY(),0) to find the last day of the current month. Ideal for deadline calculations and period-based reporting.
Compatibility
✓ Excel
Since 2007
=TODAY() - Syntax unchanged across all versions from 2007 through Excel 365. Fully supported in all modern versions including Excel Online.✓Google Sheets
=TODAY() - Identical syntax in Google Sheets with identical functionality. Returns current date and updates daily.Google Sheets handles TODAY() identically to Excel. Date format follows the spreadsheet's locale settings. Volatile function behavior is consistent.
✓LibreOffice
=TODAY() - Fully supported in LibreOffice Calc with identical syntax and behavior to Excel.