How to Use the NOW Function in Excel

The NOW function in Excel and Google Sheets is designed to return the current date and time. This function plays a crucial role when it’s necessary to timestamp entries, monitor modifications, or simply display the present date and time.

Working with Dates and Times

The NOW function outputs the date and time in the cell where it is executed. The syntax for the NOW function is consistent across both Excel and Google Sheets.

Examples of Using the NOW Function

Below are several practical applications of the NOW function:

To timestamp entries in a log or database.
To record the current date and time of updates or changes in a project.
To show the current date and time on a continuously updated dashboard or report.

Implementing the NOW Function

Implementing the NOW function in Excel and Google Sheets is straightforward:

Excel

In Excel, simply enter the following formula in a cell:

=NOW()

This formula will display the current date and time in the cell. Note that this value will update each time the worksheet is recalculated or opened.

Google Sheets

The procedure in Google Sheets is identical. Type the following formula in a cell:

=NOW()

As with Excel, this will display the current date and time and will continue to update accordingly.

Considerations

The value returned by the NOW function is dynamic and changes according to the system’s clock.
If you require a static capture of the current date and time that does not change, you may want to use a method such as copying and pasting the value as text.

More information: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/now-function-3337fd29-145a-4347-b2e6-20c904739c46

Other functions

DATE

Returns the serial number of a particular date

DATEDIF

Calculates the number of days, months, or years between two dates This function is useful in formulas where you need to calculate an age

DATEVALUE

Converts a date in the form of text to a serial number

DAY

Converts a serial number to a day of the month

DAYS

Returns the number of days between two dates

DAYS360

Calculates the number of days between two dates based on a 360-day year

EDATE

Returns the serial number of the date that is the indicated number of months before or after the start date

EOMONTH

Returns the serial number of the last day of the month before or after a specified number of months

HOUR

Converts a serial number to an hour

ISOWEEKNUM

Returns the number of the ISO week number of the year for a given date

MINUTE

Converts a serial number to a minute

MONTH

Converts a serial number to a month

NETWORKDAYS

Returns the number of whole workdays between two dates

NETWORKDAYS.INTL

Returns the number of whole workdays between two dates using parameters to indicate which and how many days are weekend days

SECOND

Converts a serial number to a second

TIME

Returns the serial number of a particular time

TIMEVALUE

Converts a time in the form of text to a serial number

TODAY

Returns the serial number of today's date

WEEKDAY

Converts a serial number to a day of the week

WEEKNUM

Converts a serial number to a number representing where the week falls numerically with a year

WORKDAY

Returns the serial number of the date before or after a specified number of workdays

WORKDAY.INTL

Returns the serial number of the date before or after a specified number of workdays using parameters to indicate which and how many days are weekend days

YEAR

Converts a serial number to a year

YEARFRAC

Returns the year fraction representing the number of whole days between start_date and end_date