Flag dates still to come — upcoming renewals, scheduled tasks — or the ones already gone. A simple comparison to TODAY() does it, and it re-evaluates every day.
< TODAY() for past dates, = TODAY() for today.
The example
Dates after today (June 17, 2026) are flagged.
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Date | When |
| 2 | 7/01/2026 | future |
| 3 | 6/01/2026 | past |
The formula
Compare each date to today:
How it works
TODAY() gives a live cutoff:
TODAY()returns the current date and updates daily.- Compare each date:
> TODAY()for future,< TODAY()for past,= TODAY()for today. - Because TODAY() recalculates, the highlights roll forward automatically — no manual updates.
- Combine for a window:
=AND(A1>TODAY(), A1<=TODAY()+30)flags the next 30 days.
Watch hidden times. If a cell holds a date and a time, > TODAY() treats this afternoon as “future” (TODAY() is midnight). Compare to INT(A1) or use >= TODAY()+1 to mean “strictly after today.”
Try it: interactive demo
Pick a date; see future/past/today.
Variations
Past dates
Already gone:
Within next 30 days
Upcoming window:
This month
Same month as today:
Pitfalls & errors
Times shift the boundary. Date+time cells make “today” look past/future. Use INT() to compare dates only.
Volatile TODAY(). It recalcs constantly, marking the workbook changed — expected for a live cutoff.
Real dates only. Text that looks like a date won’t compare — convert with DATEVALUE.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
How do I highlight future dates in Excel?
How do I highlight dates in the next 30 days?
Why are today's dated-with-time cells flagged as future?
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