How do I format dates in Notion formulas?

Formatting dates in Notion formulas revolves around the formatDate() function, which transforms date objects into readable strings using customizable formatting tokens. This function accepts three parameters: the date input (like a property or now() function), a format string that defines how the date should appear, and an optional timezone parameter. The key advantage is flexibility—you can display dates exactly how you need them, whether that's "2025-03-22" for data analysis or "Friday, March 22nd, 2025" for user-friendly displays.

The basic syntax follows this pattern: formatDate(prop("Date"), "YYYY-MM-DD"). The format string uses tokens where "YYYY" represents a four-digit year, "MM" shows a two-digit month, and "DD" displays a two-digit day. You can customize these extensively—use "MMMM" for full month names like "March," "dddd" for weekday names like "Friday," or "hh:mm A" for 12-hour time with AM/PM indicators. For more complex formatting, square brackets escape literal text, so formatDate(now(), "[Today is] MMMM DD, YYYY") outputs "Today is March 22, 2025."

The most practical applications include creating readable timestamps for task management, generating formatted dates for reports, and displaying timezone-aware dates for global teams. You can combine date math with formatting by performing calculations first, then formatting the result. For example, formatDate(dateAdd(prop("Date"), 7, "days"), "YYYY-MM-DD") adds seven days to a date property and displays it in ISO format.

However, there's an important limitation to understand: formatDate() returns a string, not a date object. This means you cannot perform date arithmetic directly on formatted results. You must complete all date calculations using functions like dateAdd() or dateSubtract() on actual date objects before applying formatting. Additionally, mixing formatted date strings with date math functions will cause errors since Notion doesn't automatically convert between data types.

The best approach is treating formatDate() as your final step for display purposes only. Keep your original date properties for calculations and manipulations, then format them when you need human-readable output. This separation ensures your formulas remain functional while giving you complete control over how dates appear in your workspace, making your databases both powerful and user-friendly.