TODAY Formula Generator (2026) — Current Date | Free Excel & Sheets

Returns the serial number of the current date.

Generated Formula
=TODAY()

Learning Resources

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Common Errors & Fixes

  • TODAY returns a serial number instead of a date

    Causes:
    • The cell is formatted as General or Number instead of Date.
    • The column is not wide enough to display the full date.
    Fixes:
    • Format the cell as a date: right-click > Format Cells > Date.
    • Widen the column or change the date format.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between TODAY and NOW?

TODAY returns just the current date (no time component). NOW returns both the current date and time. TODAY is a volatile function like NOW.

How do I calculate the number of days until a future date?

Use a difference formula: =A1 - TODAY() where A1 contains the future date. The result is the number of days remaining.

Does TODAY work in Google Sheets?

Yes, TODAY works identically in Google Sheets. It updates when the sheet recalculates.

Related Formulas

DATEDIFNOWNETWORKDAYSYEARMONTH

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