How to add dates to Google Sheets
Adding dates in Google Sheets means entering date values into a cell or range of cells in a spreadsheet. In Google Sheets, dates can be entered as a specific date format or as a function to dynamically display the current date or a specific date based on a formula.
In this tutorial, we will learn how to add dates to Google Sheets. Google Sheets provides various options for adding dates. One way is to manually enter the dates into a cell. Alternatively, date functions like TODAY, NOW, and DATE can be used. Another option is to use shortcut keys like “CTRL+;” and “CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+;” to quickly add dates to the sheet.
Method 1: Adding Dates Manually
Step 1 – Select the Cell
![](https://spreadcheaters.com/wp-content/uploads/Method-1-Step-1-How-to-add-dates-to-Google-Sheets-1024x404.png)
- Select a blank cell in which you want to add the date.
Step 2 – Enter the Month and Place a Forward Slash
![](https://spreadcheaters.com/wp-content/uploads/Method-1-Step-2-How-to-add-dates-to-Google-Sheets-1024x400.png)
- Enter the month in the blank cell.
- Place a forward slash i.e. 7/
Step 3 – Enter the day and Place a Forward Slash
![](https://spreadcheaters.com/wp-content/uploads/Method-1-Step-3-How-to-add-dates-to-Google-Sheets-1024x405.png)
- Enter the day next to the previous slash.
- Then place another forward slash next to the day i.e. 3/23/
Step 4 – Enter the Year
![](https://spreadcheaters.com/wp-content/uploads/Method-1-Step-4-How-to-add-dates-to-Google-Sheets-1024x403.png)
- Lastly, enter the year i.e. 7/23/2019.
- Using these steps, we can manually add dates to Google Sheets.
Step 5 – Use the Autofill Feature to Populate a Series of Dates
![](https://spreadcheaters.com/wp-content/uploads/Method-1-Step-5-How-to-add-dates-to-Google-Sheets.gif)
- You can also use the Fill Handle to quickly populate a column or row with a series of dates.
Method 2: Using the DATE Function
Step 1 – Select a Blank Cell and Place an Equals Sign
![](https://spreadcheaters.com/wp-content/uploads/Method-2-Step-1-How-to-add-dates-to-Google-Sheets.png)
- Select a blank cell where you want to add the date.
- Place an Equals sign.
Step 2 – Enter the DATE Function
![](https://spreadcheaters.com/wp-content/uploads/Method-2-Step-2-How-to-add-dates-to-Google-Sheets-1024x556.png)
- Enter the DATE function.
- The date function accepts three arguments i.e. (year, month, day) respectively.
- The syntax becomes :
DATE(year, month, day)
Step 3 – Press the Enter Key
![](https://spreadcheaters.com/wp-content/uploads/Method-2-Step-3-How-to-add-dates-to-Google-Sheets.png)
- Press the Enter key to print the date.
Method 3: Adding Current Date Using TODAY Function
Step 1 – Select a Blank Cell and Place an Equals Sign
![](https://spreadcheaters.com/wp-content/uploads/Method-3-Step-1-How-to-add-dates-to-Google-Sheets.png)
- Select a blank cell where you want to add the date.
Step 2 – Enter the TODAY Function
![](https://spreadcheaters.com/wp-content/uploads/Method-3-Step-2-How-to-add-dates-to-Google-Sheets.png)
- Enter the TODAY function next to the equals sign.
- The TODAY function does not require any argument and simply returns the current date.
- The syntax for the TODAY function will be:
TODAY()
Step 3 – Press the Enter Key
![](https://spreadcheaters.com/wp-content/uploads/Method-3-Step-3-How-to-add-dates-to-Google-Sheets.png)
- Press the Enter key.
- The current date will be printed.
Method 4: Adding Current Date Using Shortcut Keys
Step 1 – Select a Blank Cell
![](https://spreadcheaters.com/wp-content/uploads/Method-4-Step-1-How-to-add-dates-to-Google-Sheets-1024x473.png)
- Select a blank cell where you want to add the date.
Step 2 – Press the “CTRL + ;” Shortcut Keys
![](https://spreadcheaters.com/wp-content/uploads/Method-4-Step-2-How-to-add-dates-to-Google-Sheets-1024x472.png)
- Press the “CTRL + ;” ( CTRL + Semicolon) shortcut keys.
- The current date will be added to the selected cell.
Method 5 – Adding Current Date and Time using the NOW Function
Step 1 – Select a Blank Cell and Place an Equals Sign
![](https://spreadcheaters.com/wp-content/uploads/Method-5-Step-1-How-to-add-dates-to-Google-Sheets.png)
- Select a blank cell where you want to add the date.
Step 2 – Enter the NOW Function
![](https://spreadcheaters.com/wp-content/uploads/Method-5-Step-2-How-to-add-dates-to-Google-Sheets.png)
- Enter the NOW function.
- The NOW function does not require any argument and returns the current date and time.
- The syntax of the NOW function will be:
NOW()
Step 3 – Press the Enter Key
![](https://spreadcheaters.com/wp-content/uploads/Method-5-Step-3-How-to-add-dates-to-Google-Sheets.png)
- Press the Enter key to print the date and time.
Method 6 – Adding Current Date and Time using the Shortcut Keys
Step 1 – Select a Blank Cell
![](https://spreadcheaters.com/wp-content/uploads/Method-6-Step-1-How-to-add-dates-to-Google-Sheets-1024x471.png)
- Select a blank cell in which you want to add the current date and time.
Step 2 – Press “CTRL + ALT + SHIFT + ;” Shortcut Keys
![](https://spreadcheaters.com/wp-content/uploads/Method-6-Step-2-How-to-add-dates-to-Google-Sheets.png)
- Press the “CTRL + ALT + SHIFT + ;” shortcut keys.
- This will print the current date and time in the selected cell.