Have you ever entered a date into Excel and wished you could instantly see the day of the week it falls on? Whether you work in finance, HR, scheduling, or school planning, knowing the weekday for a specific date can save time and prevent mistakes. The good news is that Excel 2013 includes several built-in features that make this task incredibly simple.
In this beginner-friendly guide, we will show you multiple methods to determine the day of the week from a numerical date in Excel 2013, using formulas, formatting, and Excel’s DAY and WEEKDAY functions. You will be able to choose the method that fits your workflow best.
Why Determine the Day of the Week in Excel
Seeing the weekday for a date helps with:
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Employee shift planning
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School timetables and attendance records
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Delivery and appointment scheduling
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Sales trends and reporting
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Tracking deadlines more easily
Excel does the heavy lifting for you, so no more checking calendars manually.
Method 1: Convert the Date Using Custom Number Formatting
This method works well if you already have a date in the cell.
Steps:
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Click the cell containing the date.
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Right-click and choose Format Cells.
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Go to the Number tab.
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Select Custom from the list.
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In the Type box, enter one of the following:
| Format Code | Result Example |
|---|---|
| dddd | Tuesday |
| ddd | Tue |
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Click OK.
Your date will now display the weekday while still keeping the underlying date value in Excel.
Method 2: Use the TEXT Function
If you want a formula that always shows the weekday name, the TEXT function is perfect.
Formula:
Where A1 contains your date.
Example Output:
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“Monday”
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“Saturday”
Abbreviated Version:
This returns short weekday names such as “Mon” or “Fri.”
Method 3: Use the WEEKDAY Function for Weekday Numbers
The WEEKDAY function returns a number from 1–7 representing the day of the week.
Formula:
Default Result:
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1 = Sunday
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2 = Monday
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…
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7 = Saturday
You can customize the numbering using a return type:
Output:
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1 = Monday
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…
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7 = Sunday
This helps when you need weekdays for sorting or logic tasks.
Method 4: Combine WEEKDAY with CHOOSE for Custom Text Output
If you want full control over weekday names or a language-specific result, combine functions.
Formula:
Benefits:
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Allows translations
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Works in custom workflows
Which Method Should You Use
Here is a quick comparison:
| Method | Output | Difficulty | Best Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom Format | Text formatting only | Easy | Display weekday visually |
| TEXT Function | Full weekday name | Very easy | Readable reporting |
| WEEKDAY Function | Numbers 1–7 | Easy | Sorting, formulas, automation |
| WEEKDAY + CHOOSE | Fully customized text | Medium | Translations and specific formats |
Choose the method that matches the task.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
If the formulas do not work, check these fixes:
✅ Ensure the value is a valid Excel date, not text
✅ Change system regional settings if format appears incorrect
✅ Remove apostrophes or spaces before dates
✅ Convert imported dates using Text to Columns from the Data tab
Excel must recognize the date numerically for weekday formulas to work.
Practical Real-World Examples
| Date | Formula | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 10/10/2025 | =TEXT(A2,"dddd") |
Friday |
| 3/5/2013 | =WEEKDAY(A3,2) |
2 (Tuesday) |
These examples can be adapted to any spreadsheet.
Conclusion
Determining the day of the week from a numerical date in Excel 2013 is fast and easy using built-in tools. Whether you prefer formatting or formulas, you now have several ways to extract weekday names or numbers automatically.
Quick Recap:
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Use Custom Formatting for visual weekday display
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Use TEXT for weekday names in formulas
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Use WEEKDAY when numbers are needed
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Combine WEEKDAY + CHOOSE for full customization
Try applying these methods in your next Excel project to improve accuracy and speed.
FAQs: Determining Weekdays in Excel 2013
1. Why does my formula show a number instead of a weekday name?
Use the TEXT function or change cell formatting to display names.
2. How do I convert imported text to date format?
Use Data tab > Text to Columns to convert into proper date values.
3. Can Excel return weekdays in another language?
Yes. Use CHOOSE with translated weekday names.
4. Does WEEKDAY always start with Sunday as 1?
Only in the default mode. Use return type 2 to start from Monday.
5. Can I show both the date and the weekday in one cell?
Yes. Use:=TEXT(A1,"dddd, mm/dd/yyyy")
Key Takeaways
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Excel can easily convert dates into weekday names or numbers.
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The TEXT and WEEKDAY functions are the most flexible options.
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Custom formatting allows a clean display without breaking data structure.
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Always make sure the date is formatted correctly before applying formulas.
