Custom date formats in Tableau - Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

Custom date formats let you show dates exactly how you want in your Tableau reports. This helps make your dashboards clearer and easier to read by matching the date style your audience expects.

When your report needs dates shown as 'Jan 2024' instead of '01/01/2024'

When you want to display only the year from a full date, like '2024'

When your audience prefers dates with full month names, like 'January 15, 2024'

When you want to show dates in a compact format like '15-Jan-24' for space saving

When you need to match date formats used in official documents or company standards

Steps

Step 1: Right-click the date field

- Data pane

A menu appears with options for the date field

Step 2: Select 'Default Properties' then click 'Date Format'

- Context menu for the date field

The Date Format dialog box opens

Step 3: Choose 'Custom' from the format options

- Date Format dialog box

A text box appears to enter your custom date format

Step 4: Type your custom date format using Tableau date format codes

- Custom format text box

The preview updates to show how dates will look

Step 5: Click 'OK' to apply the custom date format

- Date Format dialog box

All dates using this field update to the new format in your views

Before vs After

Before

Dates show as '1/15/2024' in all views using the date field

After

Dates show as 'January 15, 2024' after applying the custom format 'MMMM dd, yyyy'

Settings Reference

Date Format

📍 Right-click date field > Default Properties > Date Format

Controls how dates are displayed for the selected field

Default: Automatic

Custom Date Format Codes

📍 Custom format text box in Date Format dialog

Defines the pattern for displaying date parts like year, month, day

Default: None

Common Mistakes

Typing invalid date format codes like 'YYYY' instead of 'yyyy'

Tableau is case-sensitive and only recognizes specific codes

Use lowercase 'yyyy' for year and check Tableau's date format codes

Applying custom format to a non-date field

Only date fields support date formatting options

Ensure the field is a date type before setting custom date formats

Summary

Custom date formats let you control how dates appear in Tableau reports.

You set them by right-clicking the date field and choosing Default Properties > Date Format.

Use correct Tableau date codes and remember formats are case-sensitive.