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DATEVALUE function in Google Sheets

Converts a provided date string in a known format to a date value.

=DATEVALUE(date_string)

DATEVALUE syntax and parameters

One argument, one required.

  • date_stringstringRequired

    The string representing the date. Understood formats include any date format which is normally autoconverted when entered, without quotation marks, directly into a cell. Understood formats may depend on region and language settings.

DATEVALUE examples

Formulas you'll actually reuse.

  1. A text date turned into a date serial — days since 30 Dec 1899, which is why subtracting dates gives days:

    =DATEVALUE("2026-08-14")

    Result46248

  2. Due date from an invoice date that arrived as text (format the cell as a date):

    =DATEVALUE(A2) + 30

    Result2026-09-13

DATEVALUE in Excel

Same name — your formula ports as-is.

Try DATEVALUE in the playground

Edit the example — nothing to install.

Preloaded with the DATEVALUE formula from Example 1 — change anything and watch it respond.

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DATEVALUE errors

What they mean — and the fixes.

  • #VALUE!

    The text isn't a date the locale recognises — 14/08/2026 fails in a US-locale file; use ISO yyyy-mm-dd text or DATE().

Related functions

More ways Google Sheets gets this done.