Syntax
DATESTRING(date_value)
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| date_value | Parameter of the DATESTRING function. |
Examples
Convert date to text
Formula
=DATESTRING(TODAY())
Returns today's date as a formatted text string, typically in a locale-specific format.
Date from serial number
Formula
=DATESTRING(44927)
Converts the serial number 44927 (Jan 1, 2023) to its date text representation.
Common Errors
#VALUE!
Occurs when the argument is not a valid date serial number or is non-numeric.
#NUM!
Occurs for serial numbers that fall outside the valid date range.
Tips
Limited availability
DATESTRING is not available in all spreadsheet applications. TEXT(date, "yyyy-mm-dd") is a more portable alternative.
Use TEXT instead
For control over the output format, use TEXT(A1, "MM/DD/YYYY") or TEXT(A1, "MMMM D, YYYY") — they work everywhere and give you format flexibility.
Returns text, not a date
The result is a text string. You cannot do date arithmetic with it. Use it only for display purposes.
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