📅 Date & Time Function · beginner
DATE Function in Google Sheets
Constructs a date value from year, month, and day numbers.
Syntax
DATE(year, month, day)Returns: A date value.
Excel equivalent: DATE (identical)
Parameters
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| year | Required | 4-digit year. |
| month | Required | Month number. Values outside 1-12 roll over. |
| day | Required | Day number. Out-of-range values roll over. |
Examples
Build from parts
=DATE(2026, 6, 4)Returns June 4, 2026.
From cells
=DATE(A1, B1, C1)Build from year/month/day cells.
End of last month
=DATE(YEAR(A1), MONTH(A1), 0)Day 0 = last day of previous month.
When to use an alternative
- DATEVALUE — Source is text.
- EOMONTH — Want last day of a month.
- TODAY — Want current date.
Common errors and how to fix them
Shows as number
Cause: Format inherited.
Fix: Format → Number → Date.
Wrong year
Cause: Used 2-digit year.
Fix: Always pass 4-digit years.
Related functions
TODAY
Returns the current date with no time component. Updates automatically when the sheet recalculates. ...
NOW
Returns the current date AND time. Updates on every recalculation....
EDATE
Returns a date that is a specified number of months before or after a start date. The cleanest way t...
DATEDIF
Calculates the difference between two dates in years, months, or days. The cleanest way to compute a...
NETWORKDAYS
Counts the number of business days between two dates, excluding weekends and optional holidays....
Frequently Asked Questions
Out-of-range behavior?
Rolls over correctly. DATE(2026, 13, 1) = Jan 1, 2027.
Date literal in formulas?
DATE(2026, 6, 4) is locale-safe; "2026-06-04" can be misinterpreted.