MS Excel: DATEVALUE function to convert date value
- Fakhriddinbek
- May 3
- 2 min read
The DATEVALUE function in Excel is designed to convert a date stored as text into a proper Excel date value. This is especially useful when importing data from external sources (like CSV files, databases, or manual entries) where dates are not always formatted correctly for calculations.
Once converted, you can use the date for operations like filtering, adding/subtracting days, or formatting.
Syntax
=DATEVALUE(date_text)
Parameters:
Argument | Description |
date_text | Required. A text string that represents a date (e.g., "4/27/2025"). |
Returns: A serial number that represents the date in Excel.
Examples
Text in Cell | Formula | Result | Description |
"4/27/2025" | =DATEVALUE(A2) | 45119 | Returns the serial number for the date |
"January 1, 2024" | =DATEVALUE(A3) | 44927 | Interprets long-form text date |
"2025-12-31" | =DATEVALUE(A4) | 45267 | Works with ISO format too |
"05-02-25" | =DATEVALUE(A5) | Depends on locale | May be May 2 or Feb 5 |
You can format the result as a date using Excel's Number Format settings (e.g., Short Date or Long Date) to make it human-readable.
Use Cases
Scenario | How DATEVALUE Helps |
Imported dates as text | Converts them into usable Excel date values |
Cleaning inconsistent formats | Standardizes to Excel’s native date structure |
Calculating date differences | Enables subtraction/addition with date logic |
Filtering and sorting | Allows accurate timeline organization |
Notes
Excel assumes the system’s locale date format when interpreting the text (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY vs. DD/MM/YYYY).
If the text cannot be parsed into a valid date, the function returns a #VALUE! error.
If the input is already a real date, DATEVALUE is unnecessary.
Related Functions
Function | Description |
DATE | Creates a date from individual year, month, day |
TEXT | Converts date to text in a specified format |
VALUE | Converts general text to number/datetime |
TODAY() | Returns the current date |
ISNUMBER() | Tests if a result is a valid number/date |
Summary
Feature | Description |
Function Name | DATEVALUE |
Purpose | Convert text into a valid Excel date |
Returns | Excel serial number (date format) |
Requires Proper Format | Yes — according to system locale |
Best Use Case | Imported or inconsistent date formatting |
Excel Availability | All versions |
Final Thoughts
The DATEVALUE function is a simple but powerful tool when cleaning or preparing data for analysis. If you're ever faced with dates that look right but won’t behave (e.g., can't sort, filter, or compute), try wrapping them in DATEVALUE and regain control over your timelines.
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