The TODAY function returns the current day’s value. The value is dynamic and updates when you change, refresh, or reopen your Google Sheet.
The TODAY function returns just the date. If you want the date and time, use the NOW function, which operates similarly but returns the time and date in the same value.
You can also insert the current date into a cell in Google Sheets using the shortcuts listed below. However, the values inserted with these shortcuts will not update like the TODAY function’s output.
- Windows: ctl+;
- Mac: ⌘+;
You can apply date formatting to the result by going to the Format menu, choosing Number, and then choosing Date.
💡 Use the Calendar Importer add-on to get dates directly from Google Calendar without manual entry.
Contents
Purpose
The TODAY function returns the value of the current day. As further explained in how to use dates and times in Google Sheets formulas, the value is an integer, but Google Sheets will typically display it as a date.
Syntax
=TODAY()
Note that you need the parenthesis even though they are empty.
Similar Functions
NOW – Returns the current date and time
Filtering & Querying
How to Filter and Query Data by “Today”
One of the most powerful ways to use the TODAY function is filtering a large dataset to show only current items. This is essential for building “Daily View” dashboards.
Using Filter
If you have a list of tasks or events in columns A through C, you can use the FILTER function to show only rows matching the current date: =FILTER(A2:C, A2:A = TODAY())
Using Query (Advanced)
Many users struggle using dates inside the QUERY function. To query data where the date equals today, you must format the date as a text string specifically for the query language:
=QUERY(A2:C, "SELECT * WHERE A = date '"&TEXT(TODAY(),"yyyy-mm-dd")&"'")
💡 Pro Tip: Stop Typing Dates Manually Formulas like QUERY are powerful, but they are useless without data. Manually typing your daily schedule into Sheets is slow and error-prone.
Use the Calendar Importer for Google Sheets to instantly sync your Google Calendar events into your spreadsheet. Once your data is imported, the formulas above will create a live, auto-updating dashboard of your daily agenda.
Conditional Formatting
Highlight Past Due Dates (Red/Green Indicators)
You can use TODAY inside Conditional Formatting to create a “Traffic Light” system for your data. This is perfect for tracking deadlines or missed meetings.
To highlight dates that have already passed:
- Select the range of dates you want to track.
- Go to Format > Conditional formatting.
- Under “Conditional format rules,” in “Format cells if…”, select Date is before.
- Choose Today from the dropdown.
- Set the formatting style to a Red background.
Real-World Application: If you use Google Sheets to track billable hours or client meetings, visual cues ensure you never miss an invoice. By importing your past calendar history and applying this rule, any unbilled meeting from yesterday or earlier will instantly turn red, alerting you to take action.
Countdowns
Calculate Days Remaining (Countdowns)
To create a project countdown, you can subtract TODAY() from a future deadline. Since Google Sheets stores dates as integers, the math is straightforward.
Formula:
=A2 - TODAY()
(Assuming A2 is your future deadline)
Example Table:
| Task | Deadline | Formula | Days Left |
| Client Report | 12/25/2025 | =B2-TODAY() | 25 |
| Project Launch | 1/15/2026 | =B3-TODAY() | 46 |
🚀 Automate Your Deadlines
Don’t manually enter every project milestone. If your deadlines are already on your Google Calendar, use Calendar Importer to pull them into columns A and B. Then, drag the formula above down column C to see a live countdown for every event on your calendar.
Other Examples
Example 1 – Plain and Simple
Firstly, let’s look at some simple examples of the TODAY function.
| Formula | Description | Result |
=TODAY() | Outputs today’s date which was September 22, 2022. | 9/22/2022 |
=TODAY()-1 | Returns yesterday’s date. | 9/21/2022 |
Example 2 – Calculating Age With the TODAY and YEARFRAC Functions
For the second example, let’s work with an inventory analysis. We use the YEARFRAC function to return the fractional number of years between two days. For example, in row 2, the purchase date was 2/12/2016 and “today’s” date is 9/22/2022. The time between them is 6.6 years.
You could add conditional formatting to make every cell with a value greater than 5 have a pink background and red font to show you that the inventory is obsolete.
Tip: Add the rounding function to display fewer decimals such as =ROUND(YEARFRAC(C2,TODAY())),0)
| A | B | C | D | |
| 1 | Item # | Purchase Date | Age Formula | Age Value |
| 2 | Hang glider – red striped | 2/12/2016 | =YEARFRAC(C2,TODAY()) | 6.611111111 |
| 3 | Stunt bike | 6/30/2018 | =YEARFRAC(C3,TODAY()) | 4.227777778 |
| 4 | Flaming Sword | 4/2/2017 | =YEARFRAC(C4,TODAY()) | 5.472222222 |
Tip: The DATEDIF function provides a more robust method of calculating age. You can customize it to output days, months, years, or a combination thereof.
Example 3 – Three Months Ago
Now let’s get the date three months before today.
| Formula | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|
| =EDATE(TODAY(),-3) | Returns the date three months ago. Today’s date is September 22, 2022. | 6/22/2022 |
The EDATE function takes a start_date argument and a months argument. With a start_date of today’s date and a months value of -3, EDATE returns a value three months in the past.
Example 4 – Last Day of the Current Month
The TODAY and EOMONTH functions and can be used to find the last day of the current month.
| Formula | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|
| =EOMONTH(TODAY(),0) | Return the last day of the month. | 9/30/2022 |
The EOMONTH function accepts start_date and number_of_months arguments and returns the last day of the month a given number_of_months away from its start value. In this case, we used the current date as the start value and specified 0 months away. Therefore, it returns the end of the current month.
Live Examples in Sheets
Go to this spreadsheet for the examples of the TODAY function shown above that you can study and use anywhere you would like.
Video Explanation
