dateSubtract

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dateSubtract
Learn how to use the dateSubtract function in Notion formulas.
The dateSubtract() function accepts a date argument and subtracts from it, returning a new date.
1
dateSubtract(date, number, string [from unit list])
It requires three arguments in the following order:
1.A date (must be an actual date data type)
2.A number​
3.A unit
Accepted units include:
“years”
“quarters”
“months”
“weeks”
“days”
“hours”
“minutes”
“seconds”
“milliseconds”
Example Formulas
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// Assume a property called "Date" with a current row value
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// of June 1, 2022
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dateSubtract(prop("Date"),3,"months") // Output: March 1, 2022
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​
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dateSubtract(prop("Date"),5,"days") // Output: May 27, 2022
You can nest multiple dateSubtract() functions to subtract multiple different types of units from a date:
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// Assume a property called "Date" with a current row value
2
// of June 1, 2022
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dateSubtract(dateSubtract(prop("Date"),3,"months"),5,"days") 
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// Output: February 24, 2022
dateSubtract() accepts negative values:
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// Assume a property called "Date" with a current row value
2
// of June 1, 2022
3
dateSubtract(prop("Date"), -3, "months") // Output: September 1, 2022
Example Database
This example database demonstrates how to output a date object set to January 1, 12:00 AM in the current year, in your current time zone.
View and Duplicate Database
dateSubtract
College Info Geek on Notion
"Jan 1" Property Formula
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// Compressed
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dateSubtract(dateSubtract(dateSubtract(dateSubtract(now(), minute(now()), "minutes"), hour(now()), "hours"), date(now()) - 1, "days"), month(now()), "months")
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​
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// Expanded
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dateSubtract(
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    dateSubtract(
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        dateSubtract(
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            dateSubtract(
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                now(), 
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                minute(
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                    now()
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                ), 
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                "minutes"
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            ), 
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            hour(
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                now()
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            ), 
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            "hours"
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        ), 
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        date(
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            now()
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        ) - 1, 
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        "days"
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    ), 
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    month(
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        now()
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    ), 
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    "months"
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)
This formula uses multiple instances of dateSubtract() to remove different units of time from the output of the now function in order to arrive at Jan 1, 12:00 AM.
The amount of time that is subtracted from now() is actually derived from now() itself. For example:
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dateSubtract(
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    now(), 
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    minute(
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        now()
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    ), 
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    "minutes"
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)
Here, minute(now()) gets the minute value from now().
So, if it's currently 3:12 PM, this essentially says:
Subtract 12 minutes from 3:12 PM.
The resulting output would be 3:00 PM.
The formula then takes this output and does the same thing using hour, date, and month.
The only caveat is that 1 must be substracted from the output of date(), since there is no "January 0".
Other formula components used in this example:
now
minute
hour
Create a Formula Property
month
subtract
About the Author
​
 My name is Thomas Frank, and I'm a Notion-certified writer, YouTuber, and template creator. I've been using Notion since 2018 to organize my personal life and to run my business and YouTube channel. In addition to this formula reference, I've created a free Notion course for beginners and several productivity-focused Notion templates. If you'd like to connect, follow me on Twitter.
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Example Formulas
Example Database
View and Duplicate Database
"Jan 1" Property Formula