TODAY and NOW Functions: Displaying Date and Time in Excel

When working with Excel, one of the most common needs is to display dates and times automatically. Instead of typing them manually every single day, wouldn’t it be easier if Excel could do the job for you? That’s where two simple but powerful functions come in: TODAY() and NOW().

These functions might look basic at first, but once you understand how they work, you’ll see how much they can simplify your daily work. Whether you’re tracking deadlines, recording activity logs, or setting up dashboards, the TODAY and NOW functions are true lifesavers.

In this article, let’s dive deep into how these two functions work, their differences, practical use cases, and even some creative tricks to combine them with other Excel features.

What is the TODAY Function?

The TODAY() function in Excel is used to return the current date on your computer system. It does not require any arguments. That means you only need to type =TODAY() and boom—Excel instantly gives you the date of the day.

For example:

• If today is August 24, 2025, typing =TODAY() in a cell will display 8/24/2025 (or another format depending on your regional settings).

This is super handy if you want Excel to always display the latest date without having to update it manually.

What is the NOW Function?

The NOW() function is similar to TODAY, but it gives you both the date and the time at once.

So, when you type =NOW(), Excel doesn’t just return the current date—it also tells you the exact time at the moment the calculation is done.

Example:

• If you type =NOW() on August 24, 2025 at 19:00, Excel will display something like 8/24/2025 7:00 PM.

This makes it useful for tasks that involve logging or time tracking.

The Key Difference Between TODAY and NOW

Here’s a simple way to think about it:

• TODAY() → Date only

• NOW() → Date + Time

So, if you’re only interested in the calendar date (like due dates or daily reports), use TODAY().
But if you need a timestamp that includes both date and time (like attendance records or system logs), NOW() is the way to go.

Updating Behavior: A Quick Heads-Up

One important thing you should know: TODAY and NOW are volatile functions.

This means that every time your worksheet recalculates (for example, when you enter a new value or press F9), the date and time will update automatically.

For example, if you open a file tomorrow, the TODAY function will no longer show today’s date—it will show tomorrow’s date. Similarly, NOW will give you the updated time each time the sheet refreshes.

If you want to keep a fixed date or time (one that doesn’t change), you should use a keyboard shortcut instead:

• Press Ctrl + ; (semicolon) → Inserts the current date (static).

• Press Ctrl + Shift + ; (semicolon) → Inserts the current time (static).

This is different from TODAY and NOW, which always update dynamically.

Practical Use Cases of TODAY and NOW

Alright, now let’s explore some real-life examples of how you can use TODAY and NOW in your daily Excel tasks.

1. Track Deadlines with TODAY

Suppose you have a list of project tasks along with their due dates. You can use TODAY() to check which tasks are overdue.

For example:

• Column A: Task Name

• Column B: Due Date

• Column C: Formula

In column C, you could type:

=IF(B2<TODAY(),"Overdue","On Track")

This way, Excel will automatically check today’s date and tell you if the task is overdue.

2. Calculate Age with TODAY

Want to calculate someone’s age quickly? Use TODAY!

Formula:

=DATEDIF(B2,TODAY(),"Y")

If cell B2 contains a person’s birthdate, this formula will give you their current age in years.

3. Record Time Logs with NOW

If you’re creating a log sheet where each entry needs a timestamp, NOW is perfect.

For example, you could use a simple VBA macro to insert =NOW() whenever you add a new row, so you’ll always know exactly when the data was entered.

4. Calculate Days Left Until an Event

Want to count down to a big event (like a deadline, holiday, or birthday)? Combine TODAY with subtraction.

Formula:

=B2-TODAY()

If cell B2 contains the event date, the formula will return how many days are left from today until that event.

5. Dynamic Headers and Reports

In reports or dashboards, you can use TODAY or NOW in the header so people know when the data was last updated.

For example:

="Report Generated on: "&TEXT(TODAY(),"MMMM DD, YYYY")

This will give you a neat header like:
Report Generated on: August 24, 2025

Formatting TODAY and NOW Results

By default, TODAY shows the date and NOW shows both date and time. But sometimes, you may want to display only one part (like just the time from NOW).

Here’s how you can control it using custom formatting or the TEXT function.

• Show only the date from NOW:

  =TEXT(NOW(),"MM/DD/YYYY")
  

• Show only the time:

  =TEXT(NOW(),"HH:MM AM/PM")
  

• Show full date with month name:

  =TEXT(TODAY(),"MMMM DD, YYYY")
  

This way, you can make your reports look more polished and professional.

Combining TODAY and NOW with Other Functions

The real power of Excel comes when you combine functions together. TODAY and NOW are often paired with IF, DATEDIF, or conditional formatting.

Here are some cool combos:

• Highlight overdue tasks:
  Use Conditional Formatting with a formula like:

  =B2<TODAY()
  

  This will automatically highlight any tasks that are overdue.

• Work shift tracker:
  Use NOW to log the current time and then calculate the difference from the shift start time.

• Automatic attendance system:
  With NOW and IF formulas, you can build a simple attendance log to check if someone was late or on time.

Common Mistakes with TODAY and NOW

Before wrapping up, let’s go over some common mistakes beginners make with these functions:

1. Expecting them to stay static → Remember, they always update dynamically.

2. Using TODAY for time calculations → TODAY only gives dates, so you’ll need NOW if you want times.

3. Not formatting correctly → If your result looks weird (like decimals), just apply a Date/Time format or use the TEXT function.

4. Forgetting time zones → NOW depends on your computer’s system clock. If that’s off, your Excel time will be wrong too.

At first glance, TODAY and NOW might seem like “just two tiny functions.” But in reality, they’re among the most useful tools in Excel especially if you deal with deadlines, logs, or time-sensitive data.

• Use TODAY when you just need the date.

• Use NOW when you need both date and time.

By combining them with other formulas like IF, DATEDIF, or conditional formatting, you can create powerful and dynamic spreadsheets that update automatically without any manual effort.

So next time you’re building a report, dashboard, or log sheet, remember TODAY and NOW. These simple functions can make your Excel work smarter, faster, and a whole lot easier.