5 Ways To Get Beginning Of Month In Google Sheets

When working with dates in Google Sheets, you may often need to find the beginning of the month for a given date. This can be useful for various tasks, such as calculating monthly totals, generating reports, or creating charts. Fortunately, there are several ways to get the beginning of the month in Google Sheets.

Method 1: Using the EOMONTH Function

One of the most straightforward ways to get the beginning of the month is by using the EOMONTH function. This function returns the last day of the month for a given date, and you can use it to find the first day of the month by subtracting one day.

For example, suppose you have a date in cell A1, and you want to find the beginning of the month. You can use the following formula:

=A1-EOMONTH(A1, 0)+1

This formula subtracts one day from the last day of the month, giving you the first day of the month.

Method 2: Using the DATE Function

Another way to get the beginning of the month is by using the DATE function. This function allows you to create a new date based on a given year, month, and day.

For example, suppose you have a date in cell A1, and you want to find the beginning of the month. You can use the following formula:

=DATE(YEAR(A1), MONTH(A1), 1)

This formula creates a new date with the same year and month as the original date, but sets the day to 1, effectively giving you the first day of the month.

Method 3: Using the INT Function

You can also use the INT function to get the beginning of the month. This function truncates a number to its integer part, effectively removing any fractional part.

For example, suppose you have a date in cell A1, and you want to find the beginning of the month. You can use the following formula:

=INT(A1-1)&1

This formula subtracts one day from the original date, then uses the INT function to truncate the result to its integer part. Finally, it appends the number 1 to the result, giving you the first day of the month.

Method 4: Using a Custom Formula

If you prefer a more customized approach, you can create a custom formula to get the beginning of the month. For example, you can use the following formula:

=A1-DETAIL.A1+1

This formula subtracts the day of the month from the original date, then adds 1 to the result, effectively giving you the first day of the month.

Method 5: Using a Script

Finally, if you prefer to use a script to get the beginning of the month, you can create a custom function using Google Apps Script.

For example, you can create a function called getBeginningOfMonth that takes a date as input and returns the first day of the month:

function getBeginningOfMonth(date) {
  var year = date.getFullYear();
  var month = date.getMonth();
  var firstDay = new Date(year, month, 1);
  return firstDay;
}

You can then use this function in your spreadsheet by calling it from a cell, like this:

=getBeginningOfMonth(A1)

This will return the first day of the month for the date in cell A1.

Gallery of Google Sheets Functions

Google Sheets Functions Image Gallery

We hope this article has provided you with a comprehensive overview of the different ways to get the beginning of the month in Google Sheets. Whether you prefer to use a formula, a custom function, or a script, we've got you covered. Try out these methods and see which one works best for you!

Don't forget to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask. Happy spreadsheeting!

5 Ways To Get Beginning Of Month In Google Sheets

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