How to Convert a TODAY Date to Day Name as Text in Excel
Question details
The user needs to convert a date generated by the TODAY function into the corresponding full weekday name formatted as text.
- Product
- Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Displaying the current day of the week dynamically in a worksheet, rather than just showing the standard date format.
- Observed behavior
- The source cell uses the TODAY() function and might be visually formatted to show the day, but the underlying value is still a date serial number instead of explicit weekday text.
Identify the target cell where you want the weekday name to appear, and check whether you want to reference an existing cell containing the TODAY function or generate the day name directly in a single formula.
Use the TEXT Function with a Cell Reference
This is the most common method if you already have the TODAY() function in another cell and want to extract the weekday name into a new cell.
The TEXT function allows you to convert numeric date values into formatted text strings. By using the format code 'dddd', Excel translates the date serial number into the full name of the day.
Click on the empty cell where you want the day name to be displayed.
Type the formula =TEXT(A1, "dddd") into the formula bar, replacing 'A1' with the cell reference that contains your TODAY date.
Press the Enter key. The cell will now display the full weekday name, such as 'Monday'.
Combine TEXT and TODAY Functions Directly
Use this approach if you do not want to dedicate a separate cell to hold the initial TODAY() date value.
Apply the Expression in Conditional Formatting
This method is useful if you want to apply specific formatting to cells based on the current day of the week.
Easily Extract Day Names from Dates in WPS Spreadsheet
WPS Spreadsheet fully supports advanced date and text functions. You can seamlessly convert today's date into a weekday name using the exact same formulas as Excel, completely free of charge.
- 1. Open WPS Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office and open your workbook in the Spreadsheet application.
- 2. Select the target cell: Click on the specific cell where you want the current weekday name to be displayed.
- 3. Input the formula: Type =TEXT(TODAY(), "dddd") into the formula bar.
- 4. Press Enter: Hit the Enter key to instantly convert the current date into a text-formatted weekday name.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get the short day name (e.g., 'Mon') instead of the full name?
You can get the abbreviated 3-letter day name by changing the format argument in your formula. Instead of using four 'd's, use three. The formula will be =TEXT(TODAY(), "ddd").
Can I use the CHOOSE and WEEKDAY functions to get the day name?
Yes, as an alternative to the TEXT function, you can use the CHOOSE and WEEKDAY functions together. The formula looks like this: =CHOOSE(WEEKDAY(TODAY()), "Sunday", "Monday", "Tuesday", "Wednesday", "Thursday", "Friday", "Saturday").
Why is my TEXT formula returning a #NAME? error?
A #NAME? error usually occurs if there is a typo in the function name (e.g., spelling TODAY incorrectly) or if the quotation marks around the format text "dddd" are missing or formatted as curly/smart quotes instead of straight quotes.
Does the TODAY function update the weekday name automatically?
Yes, the TODAY() function is volatile. This means it will automatically update to the current date, and in turn update the day name text, whenever the worksheet is recalculated or reopened on a new day.
