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Learn how the date values are stored in Excel and how the calendar system works.

The dates in Excel are actually stored as numbers, and then formatted to display the date. The default date format for US dates is “m/d/yyyy” (1/27/2016).

Dates are referred to as serial numbers in Excel. You will see this in some of the date functions like DAY(), MONTH(), YEAR(), etc.

The date calendar in Excel starts on January 1st, 1900. As far as Excel is concerned this day starts the beginning of time.

Each day is represented by one whole number in Excel. Type a 1 in any cell and then format it as a date. You will get 1/1/1900. The first day of the calendar system.

Dates with Time Values are also stored as serial numbers. These numbers contain a decimal value that is calculated as a fraction of the day.

One hour in Excel is represented by the number: 1/24 = 0.04167

One minute in Excel is represented by the number: 1/(24*60) = 1/1440 = 0.000694

Read the entire blog post: http://www.excelcampus.com/functions/how-dates-work-in-excel/

This is a video from The Ultimate Lookup Formulas Course, which is now a part of our comprehensive Elevate Excel Training Program. Click here to learn more about the program. http://www.excelcampus.com/elevate
00:00 Introduction
00:12 Date Overview
03:25 Outro