# How to create a date from separate year, month and day columns in Excel

Use `=DATE(year, month, day)`, for example `=DATE(A2,B2,C2)`.

**Excel:** `=DATE(A2,B2,C2)` (Every current version)

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

## Example

Sample data (row 1 is the header):

| A | B | C | D |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Year | Month | Day | Date |
| 2026 | 3 | 15 |  |
| 2025 | 12 | 1 |  |
| 2026 | 7 | 4 |  |
| 2027 | 1 | 31 |  |
| 2024 | 2 | 29 |  |

Formula in D2, filled to D6: `=DATE(A2,B2,C2)`

Result: 3/15/2026; 12/1/2025; 7/4/2026; 1/31/2027; 2/29/2024

## How it works

DATE builds a real date from three numbers: year, month and day. It also rolls over values that are out of range, so `DATE(2026,13,1)` is January 1, 2027 and `DATE(2026,3,0)` is February 28.

## Other ways

- `=DATEVALUE(B2&"/"&C2&"/"&A2)`: Joins the parts into date text and converts it. Depends on US date settings; DATE doesn't.

## Common mistakes

- A two-digit year like 26 becomes 1926 in Excel. Use four-digit years.
- Joining the parts with & gives text, not a date, until you convert it.

## Questions

**How do I build a date from a month name?**

Turn the name into a number first: `=DATE(A2,MONTH(B2&" 1"),C2)`.

**How do I split a date back into parts?**

Use `=YEAR(D2)`, `=MONTH(D2)` and `=DAY(D2)`.

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/create-a-date-from-year-month-and-day