Here is the Excel formula to check if a cell contains a date then return value, validate range, highlight rows, sum, and add dates. In many spreadsheets, it’s vital to confirm that a cell contains a real date and not just text or numbers. Although Excel lacks an ISDATE function, combining DATEVALUE, ISNUMBER, IFERROR, and CELL lets you easily verify dates. For example, to check if cell A2 holds a valid date (even as text), use the following formula:
=IF(ISNUMBER(DATEVALUE(A2)),"Yes, it is a date","No, it is not a date")
This formula attempts to convert A2 into a date serial number and returns a confirmation if the conversion is successful. Please note, A2 must be in Text Format.
If the cell is not in Text Format, you can use this formula:
=IF(ISNUMBER(VALUE(A2)),"Yes, it is a date","No, it is not a date")
Using Datevalue And Iferror For Clean Results
When you convert cell values using DATEVALUE, invalid date formats trigger errors. Wrapping this function with IFERROR ensures that errors are managed gracefully. This section is popular among users searching for “clean date formula in Excel” and “Excel if cell contains date then return value.”
=IFERROR(IF(ISNUMBER(DATEVALUE(A2)),"Yes, it is a date","No, it is not a date"),"Invalid Date")
The formula checks if A2 can be interpreted as a date and, if not, returns a custom error message.
Determining Date Format With The Cell Function
Understanding the cell’s format is another frequently searched topic. If your dates are formatted properly, the CELL function returns a code indicating the format. In many cases, a valid date cell’s format begins with “D.” This method is especially useful if you need to verify that dates are not stored as plain text.
=IF(LEFT(CELL("format",A2),1)="D","Yes, it is a date","No, it is not a date")
Using A Combination Of Functions For Robust Testing
For stronger validation, you can combine the DATEVALUE/ISNUMBER check with the CELL function. This robust method appeals to advanced users who need an “Excel if cell contains date then return value formula” with improved accuracy.
=IF(AND(ISNUMBER(DATEVALUE(A2)),LEFT(CELL("format",A2),1)="D"),"Valid Date","Not Valid Date")
This approach confirms both the numerical conversion and the cell formatting before returning a result.
Excel If Cell Contains Date Then Return Value
This section explains how to return a custom value when a cell contains a valid date. Many users search for “Excel if cell contains date then return value formula,” so this method is both simple and effective.
=IF(ISNUMBER(DATEVALUE(A2)),"Date Found","No Date")
The formula evaluates cell A2 and returns “Date Found” if a valid date is detected; otherwise, it returns “No Date.”
Excel If Cell Contains Date Range Then Return Value
Often, you may need to determine if a date falls within a specific range—a common query. Here, you learn how to check if a cell’s date is between two given dates and then return a corresponding value. For example, to verify if A2 contains a date between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020:
=IF(AND(ISNUMBER(DATEVALUE(A2)), DATEVALUE(A2)>=DATE(2020,1,1), DATEVALUE(A2)<=DATE(2020,12,31)),"Within Range","Out of Range")
This formula returns “Within Range” if A2’s date value qualifies.
Excel If Cell Contains Date Then Return Value In Another Cell
Sometimes, you might want to refer to another cell’s content when a valid date is found. This section explains how to reference a neighboring cell based on date validation—a common requirement in dynamic spreadsheets.
=IF(ISNUMBER(DATEVALUE(A2)),B2,"")
This formula returns the content of cell B2 if A2 contains a valid date, otherwise it returns a blank cell.
Excel If Cell Contains Date Highlight Row
Conditional formatting is a powerful Excel feature that highlights entire rows when a cell meets specific criteria. In this section, you’ll learn how to highlight a row if a particular cell contains a valid date.
Steps to apply:
- Select the range you want to format (e.g., A2:Z100).
- Go to Conditional Formatting → New Rule → Use a formula.
- Enter the following formula (assuming the date is in column A):
=ISNUMBER(DATEVALUE($A2))
When the condition is met, the entire row is highlighted according to your chosen formatting style.
Excel If Cell Contains Date Then Sum
Summing values based on date validation is a frequently requested scenario. This section explains how to sum values in an adjacent column if the corresponding cell contains a valid date. For example, if column A contains dates and column B contains numeric values, you can use a helper column.
Helper Column Formula (in C2):
=IF(ISNUMBER(DATEVALUE(A2)),B2,0)
Then, sum the helper column using:
=SUM(C2:C100)
Alternatively, you might use a direct SUMIF function if your dataset allows.
Excel If Cell Contains Date Then Add 1
A common requirement in date calculations is to add one day to a date. This section shows you how to increment a date in a cell if it contains a valid date.
=IF(ISNUMBER(DATEVALUE(A2)),DATEVALUE(A2)+1,"Not a Date")
The formula adds one day (1) to the date serial number of A2 if valid; otherwise, it returns “Not a Date.”
If Cell Contains Date Then Return Value Google Sheets
Google Sheets handles dates similarly to Excel but has its own quirks. If you are searching for “if cell contains date then return value Google Sheets,” this section will be helpful. Use the VALUE function to convert text dates into numbers:
=IF(ISNUMBER(VALUE(A2)),"Date Found","No Date")
This formula evaluates cell A2 in Google Sheets, returning “Date Found” if A2 converts to a number (indicating a date), and “No Date” otherwise.
If Cell Contains Date Then Return Text
In some cases, you need the formula to return explicit text values rather than numeric or date serial numbers. This section is popular for queries like “if cell contains date then return text.” Here’s an example:
=IF(ISNUMBER(DATEVALUE(A2)),"Valid Date","Invalid Date")
The formula returns either “Valid Date” or “Invalid Date” based on whether cell A2 contains a valid date.
Excel If Cell Contains Date Then Return Value Formula
For those seeking concise formulas, this section provides another example of returning a specific value if a cell contains a valid date. It is commonly searched as “Excel if cell contains date then return value formula.”
=IF(ISNUMBER(DATEVALUE(A2)),"Yes, Date Exists","No Date Found")
This straightforward formula outputs a message based on the validation of the date in A2.
Excel If Cell Contains Date Then Return Value VBA
Advanced users often automate checks using VBA. This section explains how to implement the date check in a VBA macro. Searches like “Excel if cell contains date then return value VBA” are common among developers.
Example VBA Code:
Sub CheckIfDate() Dim targetCell As Range Set targetCell = Range("A2") If IsDate(targetCell.Value) Then MsgBox "Date Found: " & targetCell.Value Else MsgBox "No Date Found" End If End Sub
The VBA code uses the built-in IsDate function to determine whether cell A2 contains a date and then displays a corresponding message.
If Cell Contains Date Then Conditional Format
Conditional formatting based on date validation is essential for visually highlighting dates in a report. This section explains how to apply a conditional format if a cell contains a valid date.
Steps to set up:
-
- Select the range (e.g., A2:A100).
- Navigate to Conditional Formatting → New Rule → Use a formula.
- Use the following formula:
=ISNUMBER(DATEVALUE(A2))
This rule formats cells according to your chosen style if they contain a valid date.
Excel Formula If Cell Contains Date Then Count
Counting cells that contain dates is very common, especially when analyzing time-series data. This section teaches you how to count the number of cells with valid dates in a range.
For earlier Excel versions (using an array formula, press Ctrl+Shift+Enter):
=SUM(IF(ISNUMBER(DATEVALUE(A2:A100)),1,0))
For Excel 365 or Excel 2021 with dynamic arrays:
=SUM(--ISNUMBER(DATEVALUE(A2:A100)))
These formulas count the cells with valid date entries within the specified range.
Excel If Cell Contains Date Range Then Return Value
Determining whether a date lies within a specific range and then returning a value is frequently required. This section shows you how to verify if a date in cell A2 is between two specific dates. For instance, to check if A2 falls between June 1, 2021 and June 30, 2021:
=IF(AND(ISNUMBER(DATEVALUE(A2)), DATEVALUE(A2)>=DATE(2021,6,1), DATEVALUE(A2)<=DATE(2021,6,30)),"In June","Not In June")
The formula returns “In June” if the date in A2 is within the specified range; otherwise, it returns “Not In June.”
How Do You Do An If Statement In Excel With Dates?
Using an IF statement to handle dates is a foundational skill in Excel. In this section, you’ll learn how to structure logical tests involving dates—whether you’re comparing dates, adding days, or checking if a date meets certain criteria. This skill is essential for dynamic calculations based on date logic.
Example: Basic IF Statement with Date Comparison, Check if a date is after a specific date:
=IF(A2>DATE(2021,1,1),"After 2021","Before 2021")
Best Practices:
- Always validate the date using ISNUMBER or appropriate conversion methods.
- Combine with IFERROR for robust error handling.
Quick Reference:
- Condition: Date > 2021-01-01 Result: “After 2021”
- Condition: Date ≤ 2021-01-01 Result: “Before 2021”
How Do You Check In Excel If A Cell Contains A Date?
Many users need a reliable method to verify whether a cell contains a valid date. In this section, we cover several strategies—such as using DATEVALUE with ISNUMBER—to determine if the cell’s contents represent a date. This is particularly useful when cleaning data imported from external sources where dates might not have the correct format.
Popular Techniques:
- Using DATEVALUE to convert text to serial numbers.
- Using CELL to check for date-specific formatting.
Example:
=IF(ISNUMBER(DATEVALUE(A2)),"Yes, it is a date","No, it is not a date")
How To Return Date Value In Excel?
Returning a date value in Excel based on certain conditions is a common task. In this section, we explain various techniques to return date values using formulas. Whether it’s displaying a processed date or calculating a future date, the methods here will help you return the desired date values.
Example 1 – Add 1 Day To A Date:
=IF(ISNUMBER(DATEVALUE(A2)),DATEVALUE(A2)+1,"Invalid Date")
Example 2 – Display Original Date or a Default Date:
=IF(ISNUMBER(DATEVALUE(A2)),A2,DATE(2000,1,1))
How Do You Return A Value If A Cell Contains Text In Excel?
Although this blog primarily focuses on dates, many users often require formulas that return values based on text content. This section discusses how to verify if a cell contains specific text and then return an appropriate value. Techniques such as COUNTIF and SEARCH are commonly used for these tasks.
Example Using COUNTIF:
=IF(COUNTIF(A2,"specific text"),"Text Found","Text Not Found")
Example Using SEARCH:
=IFERROR(IF(SEARCH("text",A2)>0,"Text Found","Text Not Found"),"Text Not Found")
Download Example File
For your convenience, we’ve prepared a sample Excel file that includes all the example data and formulas discussed above. The file is designed to help you practice and experiment with various date-related functions and scenarios in Excel.
What’s Included in the Example File
- Input Data: A range of sample data covering both valid dates and non-date values.
- Formula Examples: Each formula is pre-entered as shown in the table (using
<formula>
tags in our documentation for clarity).
These formulas cover:
- Basic date validation using DATEVALUE and ISNUMBER
- Using IFERROR for cleaner outputs
- Date formatting checks using the CELL function
- Robust date validation (combination of techniques)
- Conditional returns (custom values if valid date, returning values from other cells, etc.)
- Date arithmetic (adding one day)
- Date range comparisons and conditional formatting setup examples
- Additional examples for Google Sheets and VBA
How to Download the File
- Click the download link below:
(Note: Replace the ‘#’ in the link with the actual URL where your file is hosted.)
- Save the File: Once you click the link, save the file to your local drive.
- Open in Excel: Open the downloaded file in Microsoft Excel. Ensure that your Excel is configured to allow macros (if you plan to test VBA code) and to display dates correctly by using the appropriate cell formatting.
- Practice and Customize: The file is designed as a practice playground. Feel free to edit data, tweak formulas, and explore the various functions to deepen your understanding.
Additional Tips
- Format Cells as Dates: For columns that display date results (such as the “Next Day” column), you might need to format those cells as dates.
- To do so: Right-click on the cell or range → Select “Format Cells” → Choose “Date” and select your preferred date format.
- Check Array Formulas: If you are using an older version of Excel (pre-Excel 365), remember to enter array formulas using Ctrl+Shift+Enter.
- Review Instructions: A “Read Me” worksheet is included in the file with brief instructions and commentary on each section. This can help you understand the context of each formula and how it should work.
Download the file now and start practicing Excel’s date functions with a ready-to-use, comprehensive example file. Happy Excel-ing!
Additional Recommendations
Building authority on Excel date functions involves understanding both basic and advanced techniques. In this section, we share extra insights and recommendations to help you master Excel formulas that handle dates. These strategies will assist you in creating robust, error-resistant workbooks.
Key Recommendations:
- Data Validation: Always verify dates using ISNUMBER with DATEVALUE or, for VBA, the IsDate function.
- Error Handling: Use IFERROR to catch and manage non-date values.
- Consistent Formatting: Ensure cells are formatted as dates to avoid misinterpretation.
Quick Reference Table:
Function Description
DATEVALUE Converts text to a date serial number
ISNUMBER Checks if the result is a number (dates are stored as numbers)
IFERROR Returns a custom value when an error is detected
Leveraging these foundational insights will help you create robust Excel workbooks capable of handling various date-based conditions effectively.
Conclusion
This comprehensive guide has covered a wide range of topics—from validating if a cell contains a date to returning values, highlighting rows, summing values, and even handling dates in Google Sheets and VBA. With numerous examples, detailed explanations, and best practices, you now have the tools and foundational knowledge to build dynamic, error-resistant Excel spreadsheets. Experiment with these formulas, tailor them to your specific needs, and continue exploring additional Excel functionalities. Happy Excel-ing!
