TODAY Function in Google Sheets
Use TODAY to insert the current date that updates automatically every day — great for age, countdowns and "days since" calculations.
=TODAY()
Returns the current date. It has no arguments and refreshes each day the sheet is opened or edited.
How it works
TODAY() returns today's date as a real date value, with no time attached. It is volatile: it recalculates every day, so a cell showing =TODAY() will always be current. Because it is a number underneath, you can subtract dates from it to get a count of days. If you need the date and time, use NOW() instead.
Variations
Days between today and a date
=A2-TODAY()
Positive means A2 is in the future; negative means it has passed.
Current date and time
=NOW()
NOW() adds the time of day and also updates automatically.
Age in whole years
=DATEDIF(A2, TODAY(), "Y")
A2 holds a birth date; returns completed years.
Examples
| Scenario | Formula |
|---|---|
| Days until a deadline in A2 | =A2-TODAY() |
| First day of the current month | =EOMONTH(TODAY(),-1)+1 |
FAQ
How do I insert a date that does NOT change?
Type Ctrl+; (semicolon) to stamp a static date, or copy the TODAY cell and Paste Special > Values only.
Why does my TODAY cell show a number instead of a date?
The cell is formatted as a number. Select it and choose Format > Number > Date.
What is the difference between TODAY and NOW?
TODAY returns just the date; NOW returns the date and the current time.
Related formulas
- TRIM Function in Google Sheets
- UPPER, LOWER and PROPER in Google Sheets
- Circular Dependency Error in Google Sheets — How to Fix It
- #DIV/0! Error in Google Sheets — Fix Division by Zero
- #ERROR! in Google Sheets — Fix Formula Parse Errors
- #N/A Error in Google Sheets — Why Lookups Return It and How to Fix
- #NAME? Error in Google Sheets — Fix Unknown Names
- #NUM! Error in Google Sheets — Causes and Fixes