# How to combine text with a date in Excel

Format the date with TEXT before joining it: `=A2&" starts on "&TEXT(B2,"mmmm d, yyyy")`. Without TEXT the date shows as a number.

**Excel:** `=A2&" starts on "&TEXT(B2,"mmmm d, yyyy")` (Excel 2019 and later, including Microsoft 365)

**Google Sheets:** the same formula works.

## Example

Sample data (row 1 is the header):

| A | B | C |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Name | Start date | Message |
| Priya | 2026-03-16 |  |
| Diego | 2026-04-01 |  |
| Mei | 2026-04-13 |  |
| Sam | 2026-05-04 |  |
| Ines | 2026-06-22 |  |

Formula in C2, filled to C6: `=A2&" starts on "&TEXT(B2,"mmmm d, yyyy")`

Result: Priya starts on March 16, 2026; Diego starts on April 1, 2026; Mei starts on April 13, 2026; Sam starts on May 4, 2026; Ines starts on June 22, 2026

## How it works

Joining with `&` uses the cell's value, not its format, so a date turns into its serial number, like 46097. TEXT formats the date as text first; `"mmmm d, yyyy"` gives March 16, 2026.

## Other ways

- `=CONCAT(A2," starts on ",TEXT(B2,"mmmm d, yyyy"))`: The same with CONCAT.
- `=A2&" starts on "&B2`: What goes wrong without TEXT. (Shows "Priya starts on 46097".)
- `=A2&" starts on "&TEXT(B2,"m/d/yyyy")`: A short numeric date. (Shows 3/16/2026.)

## Common mistakes

- TEXT format codes follow the spreadsheet's language: German Excel uses "TT.MM.JJJJ" instead of "dd.mm.yyyy".
- Times need TEXT too: `TEXT(B2,"h:mm AM/PM")`. A raw time shows as a decimal like 0.375.
- The result is text, so you can't sort or calculate on it. Keep the real date in its own column.

## Questions

**How do I add the weekday?**

`TEXT(B2,"dddd, mmmm d")` gives "Monday, March 16".

**Does this work in Google Sheets?**

Yes. TEXT uses the same codes there.

**How do I include today's date?**

Use TODAY inside TEXT: `="Report run on "&TEXT(TODAY(),"mmm d, yyyy")`.

Every formula and result on this page was checked by running it in the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine on 2026-10-30.

Source: https://spreadsheetpractice.com/formulas/combine-text-with-a-date