How do I format dates in Notion formulas?

Formatting dates in Notion formulas is accomplished using the formatDate() function, which gives you precise control over how dates appear in your databases. This function takes two parameters: the date property or value you want to format, and a format string that defines the output structure.

The basic syntax is formatDate(date, "format_string"). For example, if you have a date property called "Due Date," you can format it as formatDate(prop("Due Date"), "MMM DD, YYYY") to display "Jan 15, 2024" instead of the default format.

Notion uses standard format codes that are intuitive once you understand the pattern. For years, use "YYYY" for four digits (2024) or "YY" for two digits (24). Months can be "MM" for numbers with leading zeros (01, 02), "M" for numbers without leading zeros (1, 2), "MMM" for abbreviated names (Jan, Feb), or "MMMM" for full names (January, February). Days follow similar logic with "DD" and "D" for numbers, and "ddd" or "dddd" for weekday names.

Time formatting uses "HH" for 24-hour format with leading zeros, "H" without leading zeros, "hh" for 12-hour format, and "mm" for minutes. Add "A" for AM/PM indicators.

The main advantage of date formatting is creating consistent, readable displays across your workspace. Instead of seeing "2024-01-15T09:30:00.000Z," you can show "Monday, January 15th at 9:30 AM" using formatDate(now(), "dddd, MMMM Do [at] h:mm A").

However, there are limitations to consider. The formatDate() function only works within formula properties, so you can't directly format date properties themselves. You'll need to create a separate formula column for formatted display. Additionally, formatted dates become text strings, which means you lose the ability to sort or filter by the actual date values in that column.

For practical implementation, consider creating both a standard date property for functionality and a formatted formula property for display. This approach gives you the best of both worlds: proper date handling for sorting and filtering, plus attractive formatting for visual presentation. Common use cases include project timelines, content calendars, and deadline tracking where clear date communication is essential for team collaboration.