Excel TODAY Function: today’s date that updates itself

=TODAY() gives today’s date. Open the file tomorrow and it shows tomorrow. That makes it perfect for “days until” and “days since” counters.

Steps

1. Click a cell.
2. Type =TODAY() — the brackets stay empty — and press Enter.

The cell shows today’s date.

Days until a deadline

Deadline in B1:

=B1-TODAY()

If the answer shows as a date instead of a number, press Ctrl + Shift + ~ to set the General format.

Days since something

=TODAY()-B1

Someone’s age in years

=DATEDIF(B1, TODAY(), "y")

Date and time together

=NOW() gives the date and the current time.

A date that must NOT change

For an invoice date or an “entered on” stamp, do not use TODAY — it will move. Press Ctrl + ; to type today’s date as a fixed value. Ctrl + Shift + ; types the time.

Check it worked

Press F9. A TODAY cell stays on today; a Ctrl+; cell stays on the day you typed it. Both correct — they just do different jobs.

Common mistake

Typing =TODAY without brackets gives #NAME?. The empty brackets are required.