Converting Excel Dates to Standard Format in CSV Files
Table of Contents
Understanding Excel Date Numbers
If you've ever exported data from Excel to CSV, you might have noticed that dates sometimes appear as numbers like "44958" instead of proper dates. This happens because Excel stores dates as serial numbers, counting days since January 1, 1900.
Quick Fact: Excel's date serial numbers make it easy to perform date calculations, but they can cause confusion when exporting to CSV.
Common Date Format Issues
Common Problems When Exporting Dates
- Dates appearing as numbers (e.g., 44958)
- Inconsistent date formats (mixing DD/MM/YYYY and MM/DD/YYYY)
- Regional format conflicts
- Loss of time information
How to Fix Excel Date Formats
Our CSV Date Format Converter tool makes it easy to fix these issues:
- Upload your CSV file with Excel date numbers
- Select the columns containing dates
- Choose your desired output format (e.g., YYYY-MM-DD)
- Download your converted CSV file
Best Practices
Tips for Handling Dates in CSV Files
- ✓ Always use ISO 8601 format (YYYY-MM-DD) for maximum compatibility
- ✓ Include timezone information when relevant
- ✓ Validate dates after conversion
- ✓ Document your date format choices
Ready to Fix Your Date Formats?
Convert Excel dates to standard format in seconds - no signup required.
Convert Dates Now