How to Get Day of Week from Date in Excel: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Get Day of Week from Date in Excel

Getting the day of the week from a date in Excel is a breeze with a few simple formulas. All you need is a cell containing the date, and you’ll be able to extract the weekday name or number in no time. Let’s walk through the process step by step.

Getting Day of Week from Date in Excel

By the end of these steps, you’ll know exactly how to pull the day of the week from any date in Excel, whether you want the full name of the day or just its number.

Step 1: Enter Your Date

Enter your date in a cell. For example, type "01/01/2023" in cell A1.

Make sure your date is in a recognizable format. Excel typically understands dates written as MM/DD/YYYY or DD/MM/YYYY based on your regional settings.

Step 2: Use the TEXT Function

In an empty cell, type the formula =TEXT(A1, "dddd") to get the full name of the day.

The TEXT function converts the date in cell A1 to a text string representing the day of the week, like "Sunday."

Step 3: Use the WEEKDAY Function

In another empty cell, type the formula =WEEKDAY(A1) to get the day number.

The WEEKDAY function returns a number from 1 to 7, with 1 typically representing Sunday and 7 Saturday, unless specified otherwise.

Step 4: Customize the WEEKDAY Function

If you want the week to start on Monday, use =WEEKDAY(A1, 2) instead.

This customizes the formula so that Monday is represented by 1, Tuesday by 2, and so on.

Step 5: Combine with IF Function (Optional)

For a more complex output, you can use =IF(WEEKDAY(A1)=1, "Sunday", IF(WEEKDAY(A1)=2, "Monday", ...)).

This allows you to map each day number to a specific name manually, useful in customized reports.

After you complete these steps, you’ll have the day of the week extracted from any date you input into Excel. You can choose to display the day as a number or as the full name, depending on your needs.

Tips for Getting Day of Week from Date in Excel

• Regional Settings: Make sure your computer’s regional settings match the date format you’re using in Excel.
• Text Function Formatting: Use "ddd" instead of "dddd" for a three-letter abbreviation of the day.
• Custom Week Start: Use the second argument in the WEEKDAY function to specify different week start days.
• Date Validation: Always ensure that the cell you’re referencing actually contains a valid date.
• Combining Functions: Combine TEXT and WEEKDAY in one formula for more advanced customizations.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get the day name in a different language?

You need to change the locale settings in Excel or use a translation table.

Can I get the day of the week from a serial date number?

Yes, Excel treats dates as serial numbers, so all these functions will work with those as well.

What if my date is not recognized by Excel?

Check the format and regional settings, or try converting the text to a date using =DATEVALUE(TEXT(A1, "MM/DD/YYYY")).

How do I get a custom day format?

Use the TEXT function with a custom format like "dddd, mmmm dd, yyyy".

Can I use these formulas in Google Sheets?

Yes, both the TEXT and WEEKDAY functions work similarly in Google Sheets.

Summary

1. Enter your date
2. Use the TEXT function
3. Use the WEEKDAY function
4. Customize the WEEKDAY function
5. Combine with the IF function (Optional)

Conclusion

Getting the day of the week from a date in Excel is super useful, especially when you’re dealing with large datasets and need to organize data based on weekdays. With the simple steps outlined, you can quickly extract the day name or number, making your data more comprehensible and easier to work with.

Whether you’re a student organizing your homework schedule or a professional managing project deadlines, these Excel functions will save you loads of time. And remember, the more you practice these formulas, the more adept you’ll become at using Excel to its fullest potential.

Dive into Excel, try out these steps, and see how much easier your data manipulation tasks become. If you’re looking for more tips and tricks, keep exploring Excel’s powerful functions—you’ll be amazed at what you can do!