How to Use Conditional Formatting Based on Date in Google Sheets

Conditional formatting is a powerful tool in Google Sheets that allows you to automatically format cells based on certain criteria. This can be especially useful when working with dates, as it allows you to easily highlight upcoming deadlines, past due dates, or any other date-related information.

In this article, we will explore how to use conditional formatting based on date in Google Sheets, including some helpful tips and tricks to make the most out of this feature.

Why Use Conditional Formatting Based on Date?

Conditional formatting based on date can help you quickly identify important information in your spreadsheet. For example, if you have a list of tasks with due dates, you can use conditional formatting to highlight tasks that are due soon or past due. This can help you prioritize your work and ensure that nothing falls through the cracks.

Additionally, conditional formatting can save you time and effort by automatically formatting cells for you. Instead of manually changing the color or style of cells, you can set up conditional formatting rules and let Google Sheets do the work for you.

How to Apply Conditional Formatting Based on Date

To apply conditional formatting based on date in Google Sheets, follow these steps:

Select the cells you want to format. You can do this by clicking and dragging your mouse over the cells, or by clicking on the first cell and then holding down the “Shift” key while clicking on the last cell.
Click on the “Format” menu at the top of the screen and select “Conditional formatting” from the dropdown menu.
In the conditional formatting panel that appears on the right side of the screen, click on the dropdown menu next to “Format cells if” and select “Date is” from the list of options.
Choose the condition you want to apply. For example, if you want to highlight cells that are due in the next 7 days, select “is in the next 7 days” from the dropdown menu.
Choose the formatting style you want to apply. You can change the font color, background color, text style, and more.
Click on the “Done” button to apply the conditional formatting.

Your selected cells will now be automatically formatted based on the date criteria you chose. You can also add multiple conditional formatting rules to the same cells by clicking on the “Add another rule” button in the conditional formatting panel.

Tips for Using Conditional Formatting Based on Date

Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind when using conditional formatting based on date in Google Sheets:

You can use relative references in your conditional formatting rules. For example, if you want to highlight cells that are due in the next 7 days, you can use the formula =TODAY()+7 instead of a specific date. This will automatically update the rule every day.
You can also use absolute references in your conditional formatting rules. For example, if you want to highlight cells that are due on a specific date, you can use the formula =$A$1 (where A1 is the cell with the specific date) instead of typing in the date manually.
You can apply conditional formatting to entire rows or columns by selecting the entire row or column instead of specific cells.
You can use custom formulas in your conditional formatting rules. This allows you to create more complex rules, such as highlighting cells that are due in the next 7 days but only if they are also marked as “high priority” in another column.
You can easily remove conditional formatting from cells by selecting the cells and clicking on the “Format” menu, then selecting “Conditional formatting” and clicking on the “Clear rules” option.

Examples of Conditional Formatting Based on Date

Here are some examples of how you can use conditional formatting based on date in Google Sheets:

Highlighting Upcoming Deadlines

If you have a list of tasks with due dates, you can use conditional formatting to highlight tasks that are due in the next 7 days. This will help you prioritize your work and ensure that you don’t miss any important deadlines.

To do this, select the cells with the due dates and follow the steps outlined in the previous section. Choose the condition “is in the next 7 days” and select a formatting style that stands out, such as a bright background color or bold font.

Identifying Past Due Dates

Similarly, you can use conditional formatting to highlight tasks that are past due. This will help you quickly identify any tasks that need to be completed as soon as possible.

To do this, select the cells with the due dates and follow the steps outlined in the previous section. Choose the condition “is before today” and select a formatting style that stands out, such as a red background color or italic font.

Tracking Progress on a Project Timeline

If you have a project with multiple tasks and deadlines, you can use conditional formatting to create a visual timeline of your progress. For example, you can use a different color for each task and apply conditional formatting to the cells with the due dates to highlight upcoming deadlines.

Removing Conditional Formatting

If you want to remove conditional formatting from cells, you can do so by selecting the cells and clicking on the “Format” menu, then selecting “Conditional formatting” and clicking on the “Clear rules” option. This will remove all conditional formatting rules from the selected cells.

However, if you only want to remove a specific conditional formatting rule, you can do so by selecting the cells and clicking on the “Format” menu, then selecting “Conditional formatting” and clicking on the rule you want to remove in the conditional formatting panel. Then, click on the “Delete rule” button at the bottom of the panel.

Conclusion

Conditional formatting based on date is a powerful tool in Google Sheets that can help you quickly identify important information and save time and effort. By following the steps outlined in this article and using some helpful tips and tricks, you can make the most out of this feature and improve your productivity.