Extract Date & Time from Google Sheets: A Step-by-Step Guide

LAST UPDATED
September 4, 2024
Jason Gong
TL;DR

Use functions to extract date and time from timestamps in Google Sheets.

By the way, we're Bardeen, we build a free AI Agent for doing repetitive tasks.

If you work with spreadsheets, check out our GPT in Spreadsheets feature. It automates extracting and formatting date and time data, saving you time and effort.

Extracting date and time information from timestamps in Google Sheets is a crucial skill for effective data analysis and reporting. In this step-by-step guide, we'll explore how to use functions and formatting techniques to separate dates and times, making your data more readable and easier to work with. By the end of this guide, you'll be able to confidently extract and format date and time values from your Google Sheets data.

Understanding Timestamps in Google Sheets

In Google Sheets, a timestamp is a single cell that combines both date and time information. Timestamps are essential for tracking and analyzing data that is time-sensitive or requires chronological organization. Understanding how timestamps work is crucial for effectively managing and manipulating your data in Google Sheets.

Timestamps in Google Sheets are stored as serial numbers, with the integer part representing the date and the decimal part representing the time. This unique format allows you to perform various calculations and comparisons based on both date and time values.

Bardeen can automate tasks involving adding timestamps to Google Sheets or extracting data based on timestamps, saving you time from manual entry and filtering. Try these playbooks:

When working with timestamps, it's important to recognize that Google Sheets treats them as a single entity. To extract specific components, such as the date or time, you'll need to use specialized functions and formatting techniques, which we'll cover in the following sections. For more advanced features, consider using GPT for Google Sheets to bring AI into your spreadsheets.

Bardeen can also trigger actions based on new timestamped data being added, streamlining your workflow further:

__wf_reserved_inherit

Extracting Date from Timestamp

To extract the date component from a timestamp in Google Sheets, you can use functions like INT and DATE. These functions allow you to isolate the date part from the combined date-time format, making it easier to work with dates separately.

Here's a step-by-step example of how to extract the date from a timestamp:

  1. Assume you have a timestamp in cell A1, such as "5/18/2023 9:30:00 AM".
  2. In cell B1, enter the formula: =INT(A1). This function will return the integer part of the timestamp, which represents the date.
  3. The result in cell B1 will be a serial number, like 44708, representing the date.
  4. To convert the serial number to a readable date format, select cell B1 and go to Format > Number > Date.

Alternatively, you can use the DATE function to directly extract the date from a timestamp. Here's how:

  • In cell B1, enter the formula: =DATE(YEAR(A1),MONTH(A1),DAY(A1))
__wf_reserved_inherit
  • This function extracts the year, month, and day components from the timestamp and reconstructs them into a date format.

By using these methods, you can easily separate the date from a timestamp in Google Sheets, allowing you to perform date-specific calculations and analysis. Integrate Google Sheets with other tools to automate repetitive tasks and save time.

Bardeen can help automate workflows involving extracting dates from various sources and saving them directly to Google Sheets, eliminating manual data entry. Try these playbooks to streamline your process:

Use Bardeen to connect Google Sheets and automate date extraction workflows without any code. Save time and focus on your analysis.

Extracting Time from DateTime

To separate the time component from a DateTime value in Google Sheets, you can use a simple formula that subtracts the integer part of the DateTime value. Here's how to do it:

  1. Assume you have a DateTime value in cell A2, such as "5/18/2023 9:30:00 AM".
  2. In cell B2, enter the formula: =A2-INT(A2). This formula subtracts the integer part (date) from the original DateTime value, leaving only the time component.
  3. The result in cell B2 will be a decimal value representing the time, like 0.395833.
  4. To format the extracted time as a readable time format, select cell B2 and go to Format > Number > Time.

Alternatively, you can use a custom number format to display the time in a specific format. Here's how:

  • Select cell B2 and go to Format > Number > More formats > More date and time formats.
  • In the Custom number format field, enter a format like "hh:mm:ss AM/PM" to display the time in a 12-hour format with seconds.
  • Click Apply to apply the custom format to the selected cell(s).

Bardeen can help automate various data extraction and formatting tasks in Google Sheets, saving you time and reducing manual effort. Try these playbooks:

For more advanced features in Google Sheets, you can bring AI into your spreadsheet and automate various tasks.

Extracting Date from Timestamp

To extract the date component from a timestamp in Google Sheets, you can use functions like INT and DATE. Here's how to isolate the date part from a combined date-time format:

  1. Assume you have a timestamp value in cell A2, such as "5/18/2023 9:30:00 AM".
  2. In cell B2, enter the formula: =INT(A2). This formula uses the INT function to return the integer part of the timestamp, which represents the date.
  3. The result in cell B2 will be a serial number like 44698, which is how Google Sheets stores dates internally.
  4. To format the extracted date as a readable date format, select cell B2 and go to Format > Number > Date.

Alternatively, you can use the DATE function to extract the date directly from the timestamp. Here's how:

  • In cell B2, enter the formula: =DATE(YEAR(A2),MONTH(A2),DAY(A2)).
  • This formula uses the YEAR, MONTH, and DAY functions to extract the respective components from the timestamp and passes them to the DATE function.
  • The result in cell B2 will be the date part of the timestamp, formatted as a date.

For more advanced spreadsheet automation, consider using tools to integrate Excel with Google Sheets for seamless data management.

Bardeen can further automate getting data into Google Sheets from various sources, allowing you to connect data across apps and have it readily available for analysis in one place. Try these playbooks to extract key information and save it to Google Sheets:

Boost your spreadsheet efficiency by connecting Google Sheets with Excel. Automate repetitive tasks and focus on what really matters.
__wf_reserved_inherit

Formatting Dates and Times for Clarity

Using custom date and time formats in Google Sheets can greatly improve the readability and presentation of your data. Here's how to apply custom formatting:

  1. Select the cells containing the date and time values you want to format.
  2. Go to Format > Number > More formats > More date and time formats.
  3. In the dialog box, you can either select a predefined format or create your own custom format using the available options.
  4. For custom formats, use the following tokens to represent date and time components:
  • yyyy: 4-digit year
  • mm: 2-digit month
  • dd: 2-digit day
  • hh: 2-digit hour (00-23)
  • mm: 2-digit minute
  • ss: 2-digit second
  • AM/PM: 12-hour time format

For example, to display a date as "Jan 1, 2023", use the custom format "mmm d, yyyy".

__wf_reserved_inherit

Appropriate formatting is crucial for data analysis and reporting. It ensures that dates and times are consistently displayed, making it easier to identify patterns, trends, and anomalies. Some benefits of proper formatting include:

  • Enhanced readability: Well-formatted dates and times are easier to scan and interpret.
  • Improved comparisons: Consistent formatting allows for accurate comparisons across different dates and time periods.
  • Simplified calculations: Properly formatted dates and times enable seamless calculations and formulas.

Bardeen can help automate the process of getting external data directly into Google Sheets in a clean, analysis-ready format. This saves time on manual formatting and ensures consistency. Try these playbooks:

By taking advantage of custom date and time formats in Google Sheets, you can create clear, professional-looking spreadsheets that effectively communicate your data insights. You can also scrape data directly into your sheets for more efficient data management.

Automating Date and Time Extraction

Automating the date and time extraction process in Google Sheets can significantly improve efficiency and reduce errors in data management tasks. Here are some ways to automate the process using Google Sheets functions:

  1. Use the ARRAYFORMULA function to apply date and time extraction formulas to an entire column, eliminating the need for manual cell-by-cell formatting.
  2. Combine the SPLIT and ARRAYFORMULA functions to automatically separate timestamps into date and time components for a range of cells.
  3. Employ the QUERY function to extract and format date and time data based on specific criteria, such as date ranges or time intervals.

Automating date and time extraction offers several benefits:

  • Time-saving: Automated processes reduce manual effort and save time spent on repetitive tasks.
  • Error reduction: Automated functions minimize the risk of human error that can occur with manual data entry and formatting.
  • Consistency: Automating the extraction process ensures consistent formatting across the entire dataset.

By leveraging these automation techniques, you can streamline your data management workflow, allowing you to focus on analyzing and interpreting the data rather than spending time on manual extraction and formatting tasks. For further automation, consider using GPT in Spreadsheets to enhance your efficiency.

Save even more time by trying Bardeen's playbook to enrich LinkedIn profile links in Google Sheets.

Automate Google Sheets with Bardeen Playbooks

While extracting date and time from Google Sheets can be handled manually using various functions, automating this process can significantly enhance productivity and accuracy. Bardeen offers innovative solutions to automate tasks involving Google Sheets, streamlining data management tasks without the need for complex formulas or manual data entry.

Consider leveraging Bardeen's powerful playbooks for your Google Sheets data manipulation:

  1. Save data from the Google News page to Google Sheets: This playbook automates the extraction of news data from Google News, saving valuable information directly into Google Sheets. It's perfect for keeping up with current events or conducting market research efficiently.
  2. Copy Google News for a keyword and save results to Google Sheets: Tailored for targeted news collection, this playbook extracts Google News results based on specified keywords and saves them into Google Sheets, enabling focused research and data aggregation.
  3. Get data from the currently opened Youtube history page and save to Google Sheets: Ideal for content creators and marketers, this playbook extracts data from the YouTube history page, providing insights into viewing trends and preferences directly in Google Sheets.

Enhance your data extraction and management processes by exploring these Bardeen playbooks, designed to automate and streamline your workflow. Start by downloading the Bardeen app at Bardeen.ai/download.

Contents

Automate Date Extraction in Google Sheets

Bardeen's GPT in Spreadsheets automates extracting and formatting date and time data.

Get Bardeen free
Schedule a demo

Related frequently asked questions

How to Add Zoom to Outlook: Easy Integration Guide 2024

Learn to integrate Zoom with Outlook effortlessly. Follow our step-by-step guide to enhance your meeting scheduling in 2024.

Read more
Nesting Pages in Notion: A Simple Guide (3 Steps)

Learn how to nest pages in Notion using the '/page' command, sidebar, and drag-and-drop, for an organized workspace. Simple 3-step guide.

Read more
Export HubSpot Activities: Methods & Workarounds (2024)

Learn how to export HubSpot activities like emails and calls using custom reports, third-party tools, and the API for comprehensive data analysis.

Read more
Integrate ChatGPT in Google Sheets: Complete Guide

Learn how to integrate ChatGPT with Google Sheets for advanced data management and automation to boost your productivity.

Read more
How Many LinkedIn Connection Requests? Limits and Tips

Discover LinkedIn's connection request limits for 2024 and learn strategies to maximize your networking potential while staying within LinkedIn's guidelines.

Read more
Export Salesforce Contacts to Excel/CSV: A Step-by-Step Guide

Learn how to export Salesforce contacts to Excel or CSV manually or automate the process for regular updates, enhancing data management and outreach.

Read more
how does bardeen work?

Your proactive teammate — doing the busywork to save you time

Integrate your apps and websites

Use data and events in one app to automate another. Bardeen supports an increasing library of powerful integrations.

Perform tasks & actions

Bardeen completes tasks in apps and websites you use for work, so you don't have to - filling forms, sending messages, or even crafting detailed reports.

Combine it all to create workflows

Workflows are a series of actions triggered by you or a change in a connected app. They automate repetitive tasks you normally perform manually - saving you time.

get bardeen

Don't just connect your apps, automate them.

200,000+ users and counting use Bardeen to eliminate repetitive tasks

Effortless setup
AI powered workflows
Free to use
Reading time
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
By clicking “Accept”, you agree to the storing of cookies. View our Privacy Policy for more information.