Date
NOW
Definition
NOW returns the current date and time according to your computer's clock.
Syntax
=NOW()
Arguments
| Argument | Meaning |
|---|---|
(none) |
NOW takes no arguments, but the empty parentheses are still required. |
Worked example
A ticket log stores an opened-at time in B2:B4. Assume now is 10 November 2026 15:00 and format the answer cell as a number.
| A: Ticket | B: Opened |
|---|---|
| T-14 | 10 Nov 2026 09:00 |
| T-15 | 10 Nov 2026 12:00 |
| T-16 | 10 Nov 2026 14:30 |
Formula: =(NOW()-B2)*24
Result: 6. From 09:00 to 15:00 is 6 hours. Filled down, the formula gives 6, 3, and 0.5.
Practice
Cell B2 holds 25 March 2027. In C2, write NOW().
- In C2, write a NOW formula.
Step 1 of 1
Enter =NOW() in C2.
Formulas here use English function names, such as SUM, and a period as the decimal separator, in every language.
Loading the sheet…
C2 uses NOW.
Related functions
TODAY returns the date without the time of day.
Common mistake
Using NOW to stamp a time that should never change: it recalculates whenever the workbook opens, so paste values when you need a snapshot.