Date & Timebeginner
Count days remaining until a deadline with TODAY
=A2-TODAY()
Function reference
TODAY in Excel & Google Sheets
TODAY is used in 1 formula pattern in this library. Browse worked examples below, or use the generator to build a custom variation for your specific data.
1 beginnerBuild a custom TODAY formula →
When to use TODAY
- Track how many days are left until a project deadline, contract expiry, or event date without manually updating the spreadsheet.
Worked examples (1)
Common errors with TODAY
Result shows a date instead of a number
Excel formats date subtraction results as dates by default. Select the cell and change the format to General or Number to see the integer day count.
Negative result
A negative result means the deadline has already passed. Wrap in ABS() to show the absolute number of days, or use an IF to show "Overdue" instead.
Frequently asked questions
How do I show "Overdue" when the deadline has passed?
Use =IF(A2<TODAY(),"Overdue",A2-TODAY()) to display a label for past deadlines and a day count for future ones.
Need a custom variation?
Describe your specific TODAY problem and get a formula written for your exact data.
Open generator with TODAY