Show the current date (or date and time) that updates automatically.
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=TODAY()TODAY() returns the current date and recalculates each day; NOW() returns the date and time. Both are volatile, so they refresh when the workbook recalculates. For a fixed timestamp, type the date or press Ctrl+;.
=TODAY()+30→2026-07-2330 days from today.
=TEXT(DATE(2026,10,7), "dddd, d mmmm yyyy")→Wednesday, 7 October 2026Writes a date out in full; swap DATE(...) for TODAY() to use the current date.
=YEAR(TODAY())→2026The current year as a number.
Date and time
=NOW()Includes the current time.
TODAY()/NOW() always update. For a static stamp, copy the cell and Paste Special ▸ Values, or use Ctrl+; (date) / Ctrl+Shift+; (time).
TODAY returns the date only. NOW returns the date and the current time, and both update whenever the sheet recalculates.
Use =NOW()-TODAY() and format the cell as Time.
The cell is formatted as General or Number. Apply a Date format to see the date.
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