Easy Excel Formula to Change Date Format from YYYYMMDD

Are you struggling to change the date format in your Excel spreadsheet from YYYYMMDD to a more readable format? Look no further! In this article, we’ll provide you with a simple Excel formula that will help you convert your dates to your desired format in just a few easy steps.

Understanding the YYYYMMDD Date Format

Before we dive into the formula, let’s first understand what the YYYYMMDD date format represents:

• YYYY: Four-digit year (e.g., 2023)
• MM: Two-digit month (e.g., 01 for January, 12 for December)
• DD: Two-digit day (e.g., 01 for the 1st day of the month, 31 for the 31st day of the month)

For example, August 15, 2023, would be represented as 20230815 in the YYYYMMDD format.

Advantages and Disadvantages of YYYYMMDD Format

The YYYYMMDD date format has some advantages and disadvantages. Let’s explore them:

Advantages:

1. Sorting: Dates in the YYYYMMDD format are easily sortable in ascending or descending order, as the format follows a logical sequence.
2. Consistency: The format maintains a consistent length, with each date always consisting of 8 digits.
3. Avoids Ambiguity: By placing the year first, followed by the month and day, the YYYYMMDD format eliminates confusion between different regional date formats (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY vs. DD/MM/YYYY).

Disadvantages:

1. Readability: The YYYYMMDD format can be difficult for humans to read quickly, as it doesn’t follow the more common date formats used in everyday life.
2. Localization: The format may not align with the preferred date format in certain regions, leading to potential misinterpretation.

Despite its disadvantages, the YYYYMMDD format is widely used in data storage and processing due to its sorting and consistency benefits.

The Excel Formula to Change Date Format

To change the date format from YYYYMMDD to a more readable format, use the following Excel formula:

=DATE(LEFT(A1,4),MID(A1,5,2),RIGHT(A1,2))

Here’s how the formula works:

1. LEFT(A1,4): Extracts the first four characters (YYYY) from the date in cell A1.
2. MID(A1,5,2): Extracts the middle two characters (MM) from the date in cell A1, starting from the 5th character.
3. RIGHT(A1,2): Extracts the last two characters (DD) from the date in cell A1.
4. DATE(): Combines the extracted year, month, and day values to create a valid Excel date.

Breaking Down the Formula Components

Let’s take a closer look at each component of the formula:

LEFT Function

The LEFT function extracts a specified number of characters from the left side of a text string. In our formula, LEFT(A1,4) extracts the first four characters from the date in cell A1, which represent the year (YYYY).

MID Function

The MID function extracts a specified number of characters from the middle of a text string, starting at a given position. In our formula, MID(A1,5,2) extracts two characters from the date in cell A1, starting from the 5th character, which represent the month (MM).

RIGHT Function

The RIGHT function extracts a specified number of characters from the right side of a text string. In our formula, RIGHT(A1,2) extracts the last two characters from the date in cell A1, which represent the day (DD).

DATE Function

The DATE function creates a valid Excel date from the given year, month, and day values. In our formula, DATE(LEFT(A1,4),MID(A1,5,2),RIGHT(A1,2)) combines the extracted year, month, and day values to create a valid Excel date.

Applying the Formula

To apply the formula, follow these steps:

1. Select the cell where you want the converted date to appear.

2. Type in the formula: =DATE(LEFT(A1,4),MID(A1,5,2),RIGHT(A1,2)).

• Replace “A1” with the cell reference containing the YYYYMMDD date you want to convert.

3. Press Enter to see the converted date.

By default, Excel will display the date in your system’s default date format. If you want to change the format, you can use Excel’s built-in date formatting options.

Formatting the Converted Date

After applying the formula, you may want to customize the date format to suit your needs. Here’s how:

1. Select the cell(s) containing the converted dates.
2. Right-click and choose “Format Cells” from the context menu.
3. In the “Format Cells” dialog box, select the “Date” category.
4. Choose the desired date format from the list of options.
5. Click “OK” to apply the selected format.

Some common date formats include:

Feel free to experiment with different formats until you find the one that best suits your needs.

Custom Date Formats

In addition to the built-in date formats, Excel allows you to create custom date formats. This can be useful if you need a specific format that isn’t available in the predefined options.

To create a custom date format:

1. Select the cell(s) containing the converted dates.

2. Right-click and choose “Format Cells” from the context menu.

3. In the “Format Cells” dialog box, select the “Custom” category.

4. Enter the desired custom format code in the “Type” field.

• Use “yyyy” for the four-digit year
• Use “mm” for the two-digit month
• Use “dd” for the two-digit day
• Use any separators or additional characters as needed

5. Click “OK” to apply the custom format.

For example, to display the date as “15-Aug-2023”, you would enter the custom format code “dd-mmm-yyyy”.

Copying the Formula

If you have multiple cells with YYYYMMDD dates that need converting, you can easily copy the formula to other cells:

1. Select the cell containing the formula.
2. Click and drag the small square (fill handle) at the bottom-right corner of the cell to expand the selection to the desired range.
3. Release the mouse button, and the formula will be applied to all selected cells, adjusting the cell references accordingly.

Handling Errors

If you encounter errors when using the date conversion formula, it’s likely due to one of the following reasons:

Incorrect Data Format

Ensure that the original date is in the correct YYYYMMDD format. If the date is in a different format or contains invalid characters, the formula will return an error.

To check if a date is in the correct format, you can use the ISNUMBER function in combination with the DATE function:

=ISNUMBER(DATE(LEFT(A1,4),MID(A1,5,2),RIGHT(A1,2)))

This formula will return TRUE if the date in cell A1 is in the correct YYYYMMDD format and can be converted to a valid Excel date. If the formula returns FALSE, the date is not in the correct format.

Blank or Empty Cells

If the cell referenced in the formula is blank or contains an empty string, the formula will return a #VALUE! error. To avoid this, you can modify the formula to handle blank cells gracefully:

=IF(A1=””,””,DATE(LEFT(A1,4),MID(A1,5,2),RIGHT(A1,2)))

This modified formula checks if cell A1 is empty. If it is, the formula returns an empty string; otherwise, it proceeds with the date conversion.

Final Thoughts

Converting dates from the YYYYMMDD format to a more readable format in Excel is a straightforward process using the DATE function and a combination of LEFT, MID, and RIGHT functions. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily transform your dates and customize their appearance to suit your preferences.

Remember to handle errors gracefully by checking the original date format and modifying the formula to handle blank cells. You can also create custom date formats to match specific requirements.

FAQs

=DATE(LEFT(A1,4),MID(A1,5,2),RIGHT(A1,2))

=IF(A1="","",DATE(LEFT(A1,4),MID(A1,5,2),RIGHT(A1,2)))

Vaishvi Desai

Vaishvi Desai is the founder of Excelsamurai and a passionate Excel enthusiast with years of experience in data analysis and spreadsheet management. With a mission to help others harness the power of Excel, Vaishvi shares her expertise through concise, easy-to-follow tutorials on shortcuts, formulas, Pivot Tables, and VBA.