DATE function

Returns the sequential serial number that represents a particular date.

Syntax

DATE(year,month,day)

Year     The year argument can be one to four digits. If year is between 0 (zero) and 1899 (inclusive), the value is added to 1900 to calculate the year. For example, DATE(108,1,2) returns January 2, 2008 (1900+108). If year is between 1900 and 9999 (inclusive), the value is used as the year. For example, DATE(2008,1,2) returns January 2, 2008.

Month     is a number representing the month of the year. If month is greater than 12, month adds that number of months to the first month in the year specified. For example, DATE(2008,14,2) returns the serial number representing February 2, 2009.

Day     is a number representing the day of the month. If day is greater than the number of days in the month specified, day adds that number of days to the first day in the month. For example, DATE(2008,1,35) returns the serial number representing February 4, 2008.

Remarks

• Dates are stored as sequential serial numbers so they can be used in calculations. By default, December 31, 1899 is serial number 1, and January 1, 2008 is serial number 39448 because it is 39,448 days after January 1, 1900.

• The DATE function is most useful in formulas where year, month, and day are formulas, not constants.

Example

Year	Month	Day	Formula	Description (Result)
2008	1	1	=DATE([Year],[Month],[Day])	Serial date for the date (1/1/2008 or 39448)