Syntax
=WEEKDAY(date, [type])
date- The date to read.
type- Optional. 1 (default): Sunday = 1 to Saturday = 7. 2: Monday = 1 to Sunday = 7. 3: Monday = 0 to Sunday = 6.
WEEKDAY function in Google Sheets
WEEKDAY returns the day of the week of a date as a number. By default Sunday is 1 and Saturday is 7, but the optional type argument lets you start the week on Monday, which makes weekend checks simpler.
Practice WEEKDAY
Task 1 of 1
Return the day of the week for the first shift as a number with Monday = 1 through Sunday = 7. Answer in C2.
Tip: while typing a formula, click a cell or drag across cells to insert references. Press Enter to check, and Tab to accept a function suggestion.
WEEKDAY examples
Each example below runs against this sample sheet. The results are calculated by the same engine as the practice grid.
| A | B | C | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Task | Start | Due | Holidays |
| 2 | Kickoff | 1/5/2026 | 1/9/2026 | 1/19/2026 |
| 3 | Design | 1/12/2026 | 2/13/2026 | 2/16/2026 |
| 4 | Build | 2/16/2026 | 4/30/2026 | 5/25/2026 |
| 5 | Launch | 5/4/2026 | 5/29/2026 |
| Formula | Result | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
=WEEKDAY(B2) | 2 | January 5, 2026 is a Monday, which is 2 by default. |
=WEEKDAY(B2, 2) | 1 | With type 2, Monday is 1. |
=WEEKDAY(C2, 2)>5 | FALSE | FALSE: the Kickoff is due on a Friday, not a weekend. |
=TEXT(C2, "dddd") | Friday | For the day's name, use TEXT. |
=WEEKDAY(B2, 4) | #NUM! | Only types 1, 2 and 3 are accepted here. |
Tips and common mistakes
- With type 2, a weekend test is simply WEEKDAY(date, 2)>5.
- To count working days between two dates, NETWORKDAYS is far simpler than adding up WEEKDAY checks.
- Sheets also accepts types 11 to 17 to start the week on any day. This practice engine supports 1 to 3.
Related functions
Learning step by step? WEEKDAY is covered in Lesson 39: Dates: DATE, YEAR, MONTH, DAY & WEEKDAY of the free course.