Excel TODAY and NOW: Current Date Formulas
By Szabó Gergő · Updated
TODAY returns the current date. NOW returns the current date and time. Both are volatile: they recalculate when the workbook calculates, which is useful for aging and risky for historical snapshots.
Syntax and arguments
=TODAY()- (none)
- TODAY and NOW take no arguments. Empty parentheses are still required.
TODAY and NOW examples
Due date is C2.
=IF(C2="", "", TODAY()-C2)A positive result means the due date is in the past.
Birth date is B2.
=DATEDIF(B2,TODAY(),"Y")Completed years between the birthday and today.
You want date and time of last calculation.
=NOW()NOW includes the time of the last calculation, not a frozen stamp unless you paste values.
Common mistakes
Expecting a frozen date
Paste values or use a keyboard date stamp when the date must never change.
Comparing NOW to a date-only cell
NOW includes time, so =NOW()=A2 may fail. Use TODAY or INT(NOW()).
Circular aging with TODAY in the same column you overwrite
Keep due dates static and calculate aging in a separate column.
TODAY and NOW FAQ
Does TODAY update overnight if the file stays open?
It updates on the next calculation. Open, edit, or calculate the workbook to refresh.
How do I enter today as a static value?
On Windows Excel, Ctrl+; inserts the current date as a value, not a formula.
Is TODAY the same as NOW without time?
TODAY is date only. INT(NOW()) is equivalent for most date math.