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Date & Time

How to Use TODAY and NOW

Last updated: 2026-09-06

⚡ Quick Answer

TODAY and NOW generate dynamic date and time stamps reflecting current system parameters.

=TODAY()

📊 Visual Demo

Book1 - Excel
HOME · INSERT · FORMULAS · DATA
fx =TODAY()
ABCDE
11=TODAY()MM/DD/YYYYDaily RefreshInvoice Dates
22=NOW()MM/DD/YYYY HH:MMReal-time StampAudit Logs
33VolatilityVolatile FunctionRecalculates on OpenLive Tracker

🧠 Deep Dive

TODAY and NOW generate dynamic date and time stamps reflecting current system parameters.

Key Insights

  • Excel dates are serial numbers (Jan 1 1900 = 1).
  • TODAY() and NOW() are volatile functions.

Common Mistakes

  • Subtracting text-dates resulting in #VALUE!.
  • Using TODAY() without freezing history.

Pro Tips

  • Paste-special values for snapshots.
  • Store holidays in a named range.

FAQ

What does this formula do in plain English?

TODAY and NOW generate dynamic date and time stamps reflecting current system parameters.

Why is my formula not working?

Subtracting text-dates resulting in #VALUE!.

Does this work in Google Sheets?

Yes, this syntax is fully compatible with Google Sheets.

What is the most common mistake?

Using TODAY() without freezing history.

Related Guides

How to Calculate WorkdaysHow to Extract Date ComponentsHow to Calculate Date IntervalsExcel Error Hub

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