Date
DATE
Definition
DATE returns the serial number for a given year, month, and day.
Syntax
=DATE(year, month, day)
Arguments
| Argument | Meaning |
|---|---|
year |
The year number, such as 2023. |
month |
The month number from 1 to 12. |
day |
The day of the month. |
Worked example
A lab types sample dates as separate year, month, and day values. Format the result cell as a number to see the serial.
| B: Year | C: Month | D: Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3 | 8 |
| 2021 | 11 | 4 |
| 2020 | 1 | 1 |
Formula: =DATE(B2,C2,D2)
Result: 44993. That serial is 8 March 2023, the date Excel stores for year 2023, month 3, and day 8.
Practice
Cell A2 holds 2024, cell B2 holds 6, and cell C2 holds 15. In D2, write a formula that builds a date from those three parts.
- In D2, write a DATE formula for year A2, month B2, and day C2.
- D2 should show the date for 2024, 6, and 15.
Related functions
DATE builds a date from parts, and TODAY returns the date from the computer clock when you need today rather than typed year, month, and day values.
Common mistake
Swapping month and day, as in DATE(2023,8,3): Excel reads 8 as the month, so the serial is 3 August 2023, not 8 March 2023.