Date and time
TODAY function in Excel:syntax and examples
TODAY returns the current date and updates itself every day. In Spanish Excel it is called HOY. Syntax: =TODAY(). It takes no arguments.
Syntax
=TODAY()In English Excel, arguments are separated with a comma (,). In Spain and much of Europe and Latin America, Excel uses a semicolon (;).
How do you use TODAY? A step-by-step example
TODAY needs nothing inside the parentheses: you type =TODAY() and the cell shows today's date. Its use is in calculating with it. Every result on this page assumes that today is November 5, 2026; in your sheet you will see the results for your date. Dates in the tables are month/day/year.
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Order | Order date | Due date |
| 2 | N-301 | 10/20/2026 | 11/03/2026 |
| 3 | N-302 | 11/01/2026 | 11/10/2026 |
| 4 | N-303 | 11/04/2026 | 11/05/2026 |
=TODAY()-B2 returns 16: the days that have passed since order N-301.
TODAY()is today's date. To Excel a date is a number of days, which is why you can subtract.B2is the order date.- If you see a date instead of 16, change the cell format to Number.
The same subtraction with DAYS is =DAYS(TODAY(),B2) and it also returns 16. For the days left, subtract the other way round: =DAYS(C3,TODAY()) returns 5.
What can you calculate with TODAY?
| You want | Formula | Result (today = 11/05/2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Flag late deliveries | =IF(C2<TODAY(),"Late","On time") | Late |
| Complete years at the company | =DATEDIF(F2,TODAY(),"y"), with a start date of 12/15/2019 | 6 |
| Complete months | =DATEDIF(F3,TODAY(),"m"), with a start date of 03/01/2024 | 32 |
| A date 30 days from now | =TODAY()+30 | 12/05/2026 |
| The last day of the month | =EOMONTH(TODAY(),0) | 11/30/2026 |
| Orders from the last 7 days | =COUNTIF(B2:B4,">="&TODAY()-7) | 2 |
| The current month | =MONTH(TODAY()) | 11 |
DATEDIF does not show in the function list when you type it, but it works in every version. For years it is the right choice: =YEAR(TODAY())-YEAR(F2) returns 7 for the same start date, because it only subtracts 2026 minus 2019.
TODAY, NOW or Ctrl + ;?
| TODAY | NOW | Ctrl + ; | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it writes | The date | The date and the time | The date, as a value |
| Does it update? | Yes, every time the workbook recalculates | Yes | No, it stays fixed |
| When to pick it | Deadlines, delays, tenure | Time-stamped records, timers | The date of an invoice, a start, a record |
The usual mistake is to use TODAY for an invoice date: tomorrow the invoice will have another date. If the date has to stay, Ctrl + ;.
How does TODAY show up in an Excel test?
In a job interview the typical case is due dates: "Mark overdue invoices in red" or "how many days late is each order?" The answer uses TODAY inside IF or a subtraction, sometimes with conditional formatting.
In a skills test:
What is the difference between
=TODAY()and typing the date with Ctrl + ;? a) None · b) TODAY updates when the workbook opens; Ctrl + ; leaves a fixed date · c) Ctrl + ; includes the time · d) TODAY only works in Excel 365
Answer: b.
Practice TODAY
The English exercises are on the way. When they open, the date exercises will use a fixed date instead of TODAY, so the right answer does not change every day. What you practice is the same: compare and count dates. Until then, copy the orders table into a blank sheet and try each formula with COUNTIF and SUMIF on the date column.
Available in: all versions of Excel. Source: Microsoft: TODAY function. Results calculated with Formulo's engine with the date fixed at November 5, 2026.
Common mistakes
- The subtraction shows as a strange date
- =TODAY()-B2 gives a number of days, but Excel formats it as a date and you see 1/16/1900. Change the cell format to Number or General: the result is 16.
- Tenure comes out one year too high
- =YEAR(TODAY())-YEAR(F2) only subtracts calendar years. With a start date of December 15, 2019, it returns 7 even though 7 years are not complete yet. Use =DATEDIF(F2,TODAY(),"y"), which returns 6.
- The date changes every day and you did not want that
- TODAY updates itself. To keep a date fixed (an invoice date, a record date), type it with Ctrl + ; instead of using TODAY.
- An order due today shows as late
- Check whether you use < or <=. With a delivery due today, =IF(C4<TODAY(),"Late","On time") returns On time and with <= it returns Late.
Frequently asked questions
What is TODAY called in Spanish?
HOY. In a Spanish Excel: =HOY().
How do I enter today's date without it changing?
Press Ctrl + ; (semicolon) in the cell. Excel writes the date as a fixed value, not as a formula.
What is the difference between TODAY and NOW?
TODAY returns only the date. NOW returns the date and the time, and it also updates itself.
How do I calculate age or tenure?
With DATEDIF and the unit "y" (complete years): =DATEDIF(F2,TODAY(),"y"). With "m" it returns complete months.
How do I get the last day of the current month?
With EOMONTH: =EOMONTH(TODAY(),0). If today is November 5, 2026, it returns November 30, 2026.
Why does TODAY have parentheses if it has no arguments?
Because it is a function and Excel requires the parentheses. Without them, =TODAY gives #NAME?.
Related functions
Practice in a real spreadsheet
Exercises with real data and instant checking. The first three are free.