---
title: "Formatting dates for Gravity Forms in Microsoft Excel"
date: 2026-04-23
updated: 2026-08-20
author: "GravityKit"
link: "https://www.gravitykit.com/docs/gravityimport/formatting-dates-for-gravity-forms-in-microsoft-excel/"
category: "GravityImport"
---

Gravity Forms Date fields accept a specific set of date formats. If the dates in your spreadsheet are formatted differently, the import can misread or reject them. This article shows how to reformat a date column in Microsoft Excel before exporting your CSV.

**Tip:** you can also tell GravityImport which format your dates use without touching the spreadsheet. On the Map Fields stage, click the gear icon next to the date column: a dialog shows the detected format with a live preview, and you can pick a different one.

![The date format dialog on the Map Fields stage. It reads "We recognized 2026-05-04 as May 04, 2026" with a format dropdown set to YYYY-MM-DD, a live preview, and Update and Cancel buttons.](https://www.gravitykit.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/07-field-settings.png)

## Date formats Gravity Forms accepts

- `mm/dd/yyyy` (example: 06/18/2016)
- `dd/mm/yyyy` (example: 18/06/2016)
- `dd-mm-yyyy` (example: 18-06-2016)
- `dd.mm.yyyy` (example: 18.06.2016)
- `yyyy/mm/dd` (example: 2016/06/18)
- `yyyy-mm-dd` (example: 2016-06-18)
- `yyyy.mm.dd` (example: 2016.06.18)

In these formats, `dd` is the day as two digits (01-31), `mm` is the month as two digits (01-12), and `yyyy` is the year as four digits. These are the same options as the Date Format setting on the field itself; see the [Gravity Forms Date field documentation](https://docs.gravityforms.com/date/) for details.

## 1. Open your spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel

*The screenshots below are from Excel for Mac, so your version may look different. The steps are the same.*

![Spreadsheet in Excel displaying dates under "Funky Date Format" in column A](https://www.gravitykit.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/open-your-spreadsheet-in-microsoft-excel.png?1480725506)

## 2. Select the date column

Click the column header to select every cell in the column.

![Excel column A selected to format date entries under "Funky Date Format"](https://www.gravitykit.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/select-the-column-by-clicking-on-the-header.png?1480725506)

## 3. Open Format Cells and try the Date category

Right-click the selection and choose **Format Cells**, then pick the **Date** category. If none of its built-in formats match one of the formats listed above, select **Custom** instead.

![Excel custom date format option selected for date column](https://www.gravitykit.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/if-date-doesn-t-work-select-the-custom-hellip-option-next.png?1480725507)

## 4. Define a custom date format

In the **Custom** category, enter one of the accepted formats into the **Type** field, for example `mm/dd/yyyy`. Click **OK** to apply it to the column.

![Excel's Format Cells dialog for custom date format mm/dd/yyyy selection](https://www.gravitykit.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/click-on-custom-from-the-category-list-and-define-your-own-date-format.png?1480725508)

## 5. Check the result and export

The column now shows dates in a format Gravity Forms accepts. Export the file as a CSV (see [Exporting a CSV from Microsoft Excel](https://www.gravitykit.com/docs/gravityimport/exporting-a-csv-from-excel/)) and run your import.

![Column A showing dates in "MM/DD/YYYY" format under "Funky Date Format" header](https://www.gravitykit.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/55356-57225-now-that-date-is-formatted-the-way-you-need-it-.png?1480725508)

## Related articles

- [Exporting a CSV from Microsoft Excel](https://www.gravitykit.com/docs/gravityimport/exporting-a-csv-from-excel/)
- [Mapping CSV columns to form fields](https://www.gravitykit.com/docs/gravityimport/map-csv-to-form-fields/)
- [Importing dates in UTC timezone](https://www.gravitykit.com/docs/gravityimport/importing-dates-in-utc-timezone/)