Dates function
Excel DAY function
DAY returns the day of the month from a date, as a number from 1 to 31. Use it to split a date into parts, check which half of the month a payment falls in, or count the days in a month.
=DAY(date)Arguments
date- The date to read, usually a cell that holds a date.
DAY examples
Every result below was calculated live from this sample sheet.
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bill | Due date | Amount |
| 2 | Rent | 2026-02-01 | 1450 |
| 3 | Internet | 2026-02-18 | 65 |
| 4 | Car loan | 2026-02-25 | 312.4 |
| 5 | Phone | 2026-02-09 | 48 |
Result: 18
Returns 18, the day the internet bill is due.
Result: Second paycheck
Matches each bill to the paycheck that covers it.
Result: 28
The number of days in February 2026: 28.
How to use DAY
- Click the cell for the result.
- Type =DAY(
- Click the cell with the date.
- Press Enter.
Common DAY mistakes
Expecting the day of the week
DAY gives the day of the month. Use WEEKDAY for a 1 to 7 weekday number, or TEXT(A2,"dddd") for the name.
Result looks like a 1900 date
The cell kept a date format. Change it to General.
DAY FAQ
How do I get the number of days in a month in Excel?
Use =DAY(EOMONTH(A2,0)). EOMONTH finds the last day of the month and DAY reads its number.
How do I extract the day from a date in Excel?
Use =DAY(A2). It returns a number from 1 to 31.
How do I show the day name instead of the number?
Use =TEXT(A2,"dddd") for the full name, like Wednesday, or "ddd" for Wed.
Guides that use DAY
Related functions
Updated 2026-10-31