How to Remove the Time from a Date in Excel: Easy Steps

SenseBridge

2 min read

·

25-10-2024

1

0

Share

Working with dates in Excel can often be straightforward, but when it comes to dealing with the time component of date values, it can become a little tricky. If you have a set of dates that include time, you may want to isolate the date portion by removing the time. In this blog post, we will guide you through the easy steps to remove the time from a date in Excel. 🗓️

Understanding Excel Date and Time

Excel stores dates as serial numbers, where the integer part represents the date and the decimal part represents the time. For example, the serial number 44204.5 corresponds to the date March 5, 2021, at noon. To focus solely on the date, we need to eliminate the decimal part.

Steps to Remove Time from Date

Here are the methods you can use to remove the time from a date in Excel:

Method 1: Using the INT Function

The INT function is a simple way to strip off the time component.

Steps:

1. Select the cell where you want to display the date without time.
2. Enter the formula:

   =INT(A1)
   

   Replace A1 with the reference to the cell containing the original date and time.
3. Press Enter. The time component will be removed, leaving you with just the date.

Method 2: Formatting the Cell

Sometimes, you may not want to change the actual value, but rather, just how it is displayed.

Steps:

1. Select the cells containing the dates.
2. Right-click and choose Format Cells.
3. In the Number tab, select Date and then pick the date format you prefer. 🗓️
4. Click OK.

This method will keep the original date and time intact but will only show the date format you selected.

Method 3: Using TEXT Function

If you need the date displayed as text (e.g., for reports or exports), you can use the TEXT function.

Steps:

1. In a new cell, enter the formula:

   =TEXT(A1, "mm/dd/yyyy")
   

   Change the format according to your preference.
2. Press Enter. This will convert the date into a text string without the time part.

Method 4: Using Date Value

If you are working with dates in a specific format, you can also extract the date value directly.

Steps:

1. In a new cell, type the formula:

   =DATE(YEAR(A1), MONTH(A1), DAY(A1))
   

2. Press Enter. This will create a new date value without the time.

Summary of Methods

Important Notes

Always remember to keep a backup of your original data before making changes. This will ensure that you can revert to the original dates if necessary.

Now you have a handful of methods to remove the time from dates in Excel. Whether you prefer using formulas or changing the cell format, these techniques will help you keep your data clean and organized. Happy Excel-ing! 📊✨