---
title: "DATEVALUE function in Excel: syntax and examples | PracticeExcel"
description: "How to use DATEVALUE in Excel and Google Sheets: turn dates stored as text into real dates you can sort, filter and count with."
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> Index of every page on this site: [llms.txt](https://practiceexcelonline.com/llms.txt)
# **The DATEVALUE function**
Converts a date written as text, such as "2024-03-15", into a date serial number Excel can calculate with and format.
=
DATEVALUE(
## **Syntax**
```
DATEVALUE(date_text)
```
- **date_text **
- A date as text, in a format your Excel reads as a date, or a cell that holds one.
## **Examples**
B1=DATEVALUE("2024-03-15")
| | A | B |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | | **45366** |
B1=DATEVALUE("2024-03-15")-DATEVALUE("2024-01-01")
| | A | B |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | | **74** |
B1=TEXT(DATEVALUE("March 15, 2024"),"yyyy-mm-dd")
| | A | B |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | | **2024-03-15** |
## **Questions**
### Why does DATEVALUE return
Excel does not recognize the text as a date. Dates in a format from another country, such as 15/03/2024 on a US computer, are the usual cause. Rebuild them with DATE, LEFT, MID and RIGHT.
### Why is the result a number like 45366?
That is how Excel stores dates, counting days from Jan 1, 1900. Format the cell as a date to see Mar 15, 2024.
## **Related functions**
- [**DATE**](https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/date)
- [**VALUE**](https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/value)
- [**TEXT**](https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/text)
- [**DAYS**](https://practiceexcelonline.com/functions/days)
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