How to Change Date Format in Google Sheets
Proper date formatting ensures your dates display correctly and sort chronologically. Google Sheets offers many built-in and custom date formats.
1
Select Your Date Cells
Highlight the cells containing dates you want to reformat.
2
Open Number Format Menu
Go to Format > Number > Date to see available date formats.
💡 The format menu shows a preview of how your dates will appear.
3
Choose a Built-in Format
Select from options like "MM/DD/YYYY", "DD/MM/YYYY", "Month DD, YYYY", or "DD-MMM-YYYY".
4
Create a Custom Date Format
Click Format > Number > Custom date and time. Build your format using tokens: YYYY for year, MM for month, DD for day, and HH:MM for time.
Try These Templates
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Google Sheets show numbers instead of dates?
The cells may not be formatted as dates. Apply Format > Number > Date to fix this.
Can I create a custom date format like Q1-2026?
Yes. Use Format > Number > Custom date and time and build your format using text and date tokens.