# How to get the day of the week from a date in Excel

Use `=TEXT(A2,"dddd")` for the full day name, or `"ddd"` for Mon, Tue.

**Excel:** `=TEXT(A2,"dddd")` (Every current version)

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

## Example

Sample data (row 1 is the header):

| A | B |
| --- | --- |
| Order date | Day |
| 2026-03-02 |  |
| 2026-03-07 |  |
| 2026-04-15 |  |
| 2026-07-04 |  |
| 2026-11-26 |  |
| 2026-12-25 |  |

Formula in B2, filled to B7: `=TEXT(A2,"dddd")`

Result: Monday; Saturday; Wednesday; Saturday; Thursday; Friday

## How it works

TEXT formats a date with a pattern and returns text: `"dddd"` is the full day name and `"ddd"` the three-letter one. The date stays unchanged in column A, so you can still sort and calculate with it.

## Other ways

- `=TEXT(A2,"ddd")`: Three-letter names: Mon, Sat. (Short day names.)
- `=WEEKDAY(A2,2)`: A number from 1 (Monday) to 7 (Sunday), better for sorting and math. (Day number instead of the name.)
- `=CHOOSE(WEEKDAY(A2),"Sunday","Monday","Tuesday","Wednesday","Thursday","Friday","Saturday")`: The same names without TEXT; swap in your own labels if you need them.

## Common mistakes

- The result is text, so sorting puts Friday before Monday. Sort by the date or by WEEKDAY instead.
- TEXT day names follow the spreadsheet's language: a French locale returns "lundi".
- To keep the date and only show the day name, apply the custom number format "dddd" instead of using a formula.

## Questions

**How do I show the day and the date together?**

`=TEXT(A2,"dddd, mmmm d")` gives "Monday, March 2".

**How do I count orders by day of the week?**

Compare the names: `=SUMPRODUCT(--(TEXT(A2:A7,"ddd")="Sat"))`.

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/day-of-the-week-from-a-date