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DAY Function
Summary
The DAY function extracts the day component from any date value in Excel, returning an integer between 1 and 31. Perfect for date analysis, reporting, and dynamic calculations that depend on the specific day of the month.
Syntax
DAY(serial_number)Parameters
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| serial_number | Date |
Yes | The date containing the day you want to extract. Enter using DATE(year,month,day), cell reference, or other date functions. |
Using the DAY Function
DAY is essential for date manipulation tasks like creating custom reports, calculating billing cycles, or building dynamic schedules that respond to the current day.
Common DAY Examples
Extract Day from Cell Reference
=DAY(A2)Returns 15 if A2 contains April 15, 2011. Simple extraction from any date cell.
Day from DATE Function
=DAY(DATE(2023,12,25))Returns 25 for Christmas day created with DATE function.
Current Day
=DAY(TODAY())Returns today's day number (e.g., 9 if today is December 9th).
Nested with MONTH/YEAR
=DAY(A2)&"/"&MONTH(A2)&"/"&YEAR(A2)Creates custom date format like '15/4/2011' from original date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Errors and Solutions
#VALUE!
Cause: serial_number is not a valid date
Solution: Use DATEVALUE() to convert text, or ensure cell is formatted as date
#NUM!
Cause: serial_number is negative or invalid
Solution: Verify date is after January 1, 1900
Notes
- Excel stores dates as serial numbers starting January 1, 1900 = 1
- DAY always returns Gregorian values even if date displays in other calendars
- Maximum value is 31, minimum is 1
- Works with TODAY(), NOW(), DATE() and cell references
Compatibility
Available in: Excel 2007, Excel 2010, Excel 2013, Excel 2016, Excel 2019, Excel 2021, Excel 365, Excel Online
Not available in:
Content last reviewed: December 9, 2025
Update frequency: As needed
Excel versions tested: Excel 2007+