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How to return day of the week from date in Excel?

Author Xiaoyang Last modified

Excel is a powerful tool for data analysis and manipulation, and one common task is extracting the day of the week from a given date. Whether you're managing schedules, analyzing trends, or preparing reports, knowing how to derive the day of the week from a date can be incredibly useful. Below is a detailed guide to help you efficiently return the day of the week from any date.

Return day of the week from date with Text function

Return day of the week from date with Kutools for Excel

Return day of the week from date with Format Cells command


Return day of the week from date with Text function

The TEXT function is one of the simplest ways to return the day of the week from a date in Excel. It allows you to format a date as a text string, including the day of the week.

1. Enter any one of the following formula into a blank cell besides your data, then, drag the formula down to fill it to other cells. See screenshot:

=TEXT(A2, "dddd")
=TEXT(A2, "ddd")

Tip: in the above formulas:
  • "dddd" returns the full name of the day (e.g., "Sunday, Monday").
  • "ddd" returns the abbreviated name of the day (e.g., "Sun, Mon").

Return day of the week from date with Kutools for Excel

Kutools for Excel offers a fast and seamless solution to return the day of the week from a date using its "Apply Date Formatting" feature. With just a few clicks, you can effortlessly extract and display the day of the week in your preferred format—whether it’s full day names (e.g., "Monday") or abbreviated names (e.g., "Mon"). Additionally, Kutools allows you to define custom date formats, ensuring your data is presented exactly how you need it, tailored to your specific requirements.

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After installing Kutools for Excel, please do as follows:

1. Select the date cells that you want to get the day of week name.

2. Then click "Kutools" > "Format" > "Apply Date Formatting", see screenshot:

doc return day of week 2

3. In the "Apply Date Formatting" dialog box, choose "Wed" or "Wednesday" from the "Date formatting" list box, and you can preview the results from the "Preview" pane, see screenshot:

Tip: “Wed” will get the abbreviated name of the day, and “Wednesday” will get the full name of the day.

selec the data formattting in the dialog box

4. Then click OK or Apply button, all the selected date have been replaced by the day name that you want.

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Return day of the week from date with Format Cells command

The Format Cells command also can help you to finish this job.

1. Select the date range that you want to convert to day of week.

2. Then right click and choose "Format Cells" from the context menu.

3. In the "Format Cells" dialog box, click "Number" tab, and then click "Custom" option under the "Category" list box, then enter “ddd” or “dddd” into the "Type" text box, see screenshot:

Tip: “ddd” will get the abbreviated name of the day, and “dddd” will get the full name of the day.

specify a date format in the dialog box

4. Then click OK button to close the dialog, and you will get the following results:

get the result by format cells feature

In conclusion, Excel offers multiple efficient ways to return the day of the week from a date, each suited to different needs and preferences. Whether you prefer the simplicity of the TEXT function, the advanced capabilities of Kutools for Excel, or the quick formatting options of the Format Cells command, there’s a solution for every user. Choose the method that best fits your workflow and unlock the full potential of Excel for managing dates and days of the week! If you're interested in exploring more Excel tips and tricks, our website offers thousands of tutorials to help you master Excel.

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