How to Change the Date Format in Google Sheets

Introduction

Google Sheets allows users to work with dates in various formats depending on their region, preference, or the requirements of a specific task. Whether you want to change the date format to display the month, day, year, or even adjust how the day of the week is shown, Google Sheets offers several methods to customize the date format. This tutorial will guide you through the steps to change the date format in Google Sheets easily.

Step 1: Understand the Default Date Format

By default, Google Sheets will display dates in the format specified by your regional settings. For example, in the US, the default date format might be MM/DD/YYYY, while in many European countries, it could be DD/MM/YYYY. Understanding this will help you recognize when a change is needed.

To check or change the region settings in Google Sheets:

  1. Open your Google Sheet.
  2. Go to File > Settings.
  3. Under the General tab, look for the Locale section. This determines the default date format.
  4. Change the locale to your desired region (e.g., United States, United Kingdom, etc.) and click Save Settings.

Step 2: Changing the Date Format for a Specific Cell or Range

If you only want to change the date format for a particular cell or a range of cells, follow these steps:

  1. Highlight the cell or range of cells that contain the dates you want to format.
  2. Go to the Format menu at the top of the screen.
  3. Select Number > Date from the dropdown menu. This will apply the default date format for your region.
  4. If you want more specific formatting, choose More formats > Custom date and time.

Here, you can choose from a variety of pre-set date formats or create your own custom format using the following options:

  • YYYY – Year (e.g., 2025)
  • MM – Month (e.g., 08)
  • DD – Day (e.g., 09)
  • dddd – Full day of the week (e.g., Monday)
  • d – Abbreviated day (e.g., Mon)

For example, if you want the format to show as Monday, August 9, 2025, enter the custom format as:

dddd, MMMM dd, yyyy

This will display the date as “Monday, August 09, 2025”.

Step 3: Using Date Format Shortcuts

Google Sheets provides several predefined date formats. To apply one of these quickly:

  1. Highlight the cell or range of cells containing dates.
  2. Click on the Format menu at the top.
  3. Select Number > Date for the default date format, or choose one of the other options like Time, Currency, or Percent for different formats.

Alternatively, you can use the shortcut keys:

  • Ctrl + Shift + 3 (Windows) / Command + Shift + 3 (Mac) – Apply the default date format.
  • Ctrl + Shift + 4 (Windows) / Command + Shift + 4 (Mac) – Apply the default time format.

Step 4: Change Date Format for the Entire Sheet

If you want to change the date format for the entire sheet, follow these steps:

  1. Select the entire sheet by clicking the square between the row numbers and column letters (top-left corner of the sheet).
  2. Go to the Format menu and select Number > Date or apply a custom date format as described earlier.
  3. The selected date format will now be applied to all the cells in the sheet that contain dates.

Step 5: Changing Date Format via Google Apps Script

If you want to automate the process of changing the date format for multiple cells or sheets, you can use Google Apps Script. Here’s an example script:

function changeDateFormat() {
    var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getActiveSheet();
    var range = sheet.getRange('A1:A10'); // Change this to your desired range
    range.setNumberFormat('yyyy-mm-dd'); // Change the format as needed
}

This script will change the date format of the range from A1 to A10 to YYYY-MM-DD. You can modify the range and the format string as needed.

To use this script:

  1. Go to Extensions > Apps Script in your Google Sheet.
  2. Paste the code above in the script editor.
  3. Click Save and then click on the play button (▶️) to run the script.

Step 6: Additional Date Format Examples

Here are some common custom date format examples you can use in Google Sheets:

  • MM/dd/yyyy – 08/09/2025
  • dd-MMM-yyyy – 09-Aug-2025
  • dddd, MMM dd, yyyy – Monday, Aug 09, 2025
  • yy/MM/dd – 25/08/09
  • MM-dd-yyyy – 08-09-2025

Simply use the format of your choice in the "Custom date and time" option.

Conclusion

Changing the date format in Google Sheets is simple and can be done through the built-in format options, or by using Google Apps Script for more advanced customization. Whether you need to display dates in a short format or include the full day of the week, Google Sheets gives you the flexibility to choose the format that best suits your needs. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can ensure that your dates are formatted correctly and consistently in your sheets.