Getting the beginning of the month in Google Sheets can be useful for various date-related calculations and analyses. Here are five ways to achieve this:
Understanding the Problem
When working with dates in Google Sheets, it's common to need the first day of the month. This can be useful for calculating monthly averages, creating financial reports, or analyzing sales data. In this article, we'll explore five different methods to get the beginning of the month in Google Sheets.
Method 1: Using the EOMONTH Function
The EOMONTH function is a built-in Google Sheets function that returns the last day of the month. To get the first day of the month, you can use the following formula:
=DATE(YEAR(A1), MONTH(A1), 1)
Assuming the date is in cell A1, this formula will return the first day of the month.
Method 2: Using the DATE Function
The DATE function is another built-in Google Sheets function that returns a date value. You can use the following formula to get the first day of the month:
=DATE(YEAR(A1), MONTH(A1), 1)
This formula is similar to the one used in Method 1, but it uses the DATE function instead.
Method 3: Using the EDATE Function
The EDATE function is a built-in Google Sheets function that returns a date a specified number of months before or after a given date. To get the first day of the month, you can use the following formula:
=EDATE(A1, -DAY(A1)+1)
Assuming the date is in cell A1, this formula will return the first day of the month.
Method 4: Using the TEXT Function
The TEXT function is a built-in Google Sheets function that returns a text value. You can use the following formula to get the first day of the month:
=TEXT(A1, "YYYY-MM-01")
Assuming the date is in cell A1, this formula will return the first day of the month as a text value.
Method 5: Using a Custom Formula
If you want to avoid using built-in Google Sheets functions, you can create a custom formula to get the first day of the month. Here's an example:
=(A1-DAY(A1)+1)
Assuming the date is in cell A1, this formula will return the first day of the month.
Gallery of Google Sheets Date Functions
FAQs
What is the easiest way to get the first day of the month in Google Sheets?
+Using the EOMONTH function is one of the easiest ways to get the first day of the month in Google Sheets.
Can I use the DATE function to get the first day of the month in Google Sheets?
+Yes, you can use the DATE function to get the first day of the month in Google Sheets.
What is the difference between the EDATE and EOMONTH functions in Google Sheets?
+The EDATE function returns a date a specified number of months before or after a given date, while the EOMONTH function returns the last day of the month.