Master Dates and Times in Zapier

Working with dates and times in Zapier lets you schedule, delay, and format information so your automated workflows run exactly when and how you need. This guide walks you through the essential tools and patterns for handling date and time fields inside your Zaps.

The instructions below are based on the official Zapier documentation for date and time management so you can confidently build time-aware automations.

Understanding Date and Time in Zapier

Before you start building, it helps to know how Zapier interprets and stores date and time values. Most apps send timestamps in slightly different formats, and Zapier standardizes them so they can be used reliably across steps.

Zapier typically reads dates in ISO formats (for example, 2025-07-01T14:30:00Z).
If the source app uses a custom format, you can convert it using a Formatter action.
Time zones matter: a date can shift to the previous or next day depending on where you are located.

By standardizing your dates early in the Zap, you avoid confusion later when scheduling, delaying, or filtering tasks.

How Zapier Handles Time Zones

Time zones are one of the most important aspects of date and time automation. Zapier can interpret the same timestamp differently depending on which time zone you select for your account or Zap.

Set Your Default Time Zone in Zapier

To keep dates and times consistent across all your Zaps, make sure your account time zone is correctly configured.

Sign in to your Zapier account.
Open your profile or account settings.
Look for the time zone setting and choose the correct region.
Save your changes so all new Zaps use this default.

When the time zone is set, Zapier uses it as the base for date formatting, time comparisons, and schedule evaluations.

Override Time Zone Per Zap

Some workflows need to run in a different region than your main account. In those cases, you can configure time zone settings at the Zap level.

Open the specific Zap that needs a different time zone.
Check the Zap settings or app configuration for a time zone field.
Select the appropriate time zone for that automation.

This helps when, for example, a team in one country manages campaigns for customers in another region.

Using Formatter by Zapier for Date and Time

The Formatter by Zapier app is the primary tool you will use to convert, reformat, and calculate date and time values between steps. It gives you flexible options to handle almost any date format you encounter.

Create a Date/Time Formatter Step

Use these steps to add a Formatter action dedicated to date and time:

Edit your Zap and click to add a new action step.
Search for and select Formatter by Zapier.
Choose the Date / Time event.
Continue to configure the action with the options described below.

This action can then be used to reformat, change time zones, or perform math on date values coming from previous steps.

Common Date/Time Transform Options

Inside the Formatter by Zapier Date / Time step, you will typically see options such as:

Format: Reformat a date into a new pattern (for example, from 2025-07-01 to July 1, 2025).
Add/Subtract Time: Add or subtract minutes, hours, days, weeks, or months.
Change Timezone: Convert a timestamp from one time zone to another.
Compare Dates: In some setups, you can calculate differences between dates using multiple Formatter steps.

Each of these transformations helps other actions and filters work with dates in the exact format they expect.

How to Reformat Dates and Times in Zapier

Many apps send dates in machine-friendly formats that are not ideal for emails, spreadsheets, or messages. Zapier can reformat those values so they look right for your audience while remaining precise for the automation.

Step-by-step: Reformat a Date

Start with a trigger that provides a date field (for example, a new calendar event or form submission).
Add a Formatter by Zapier step with the Date / Time event.
For the transform, select Format.
In the Input field, map the original date or timestamp from your trigger.
Specify the From Format if needed, especially when the incoming format is not automatically recognized.
Choose your desired To Format, such as:
- MMMM D, YYYY for July 1, 2025
- MM/DD/YYYY for 07/01/2025
- YYYY-MM-DD for 2025-07-01
Test the step to confirm the output is correct.

Once the Formatter step is working, you can insert the reformatted date into emails, documents, or other app fields later in the Zap.

How to Add or Subtract Time in Zapier

Automations often need to schedule reminders, follow-ups, or tasks relative to another time. Zapier can add or subtract time units so you can calculate due dates and scheduled send times.

Step-by-step: Add or Subtract Time

Insert a Formatter by Zapier action using the Date / Time event.
Choose the transform option that lets you add or subtract time.
In the Input field, use either:
- A date from a previous step, such as an event start date.
- now, which tells Zapier to use the current time when the Zap runs.
In the Expression or adjustment field, specify how much time to add or subtract, such as:
- +1h for one hour later
- +2d for two days later
- -30m for thirty minutes earlier
Select the output format you need, or keep the default standard format.
Test the step so you can see the calculated date and time.

You can then pass this calculated timestamp to later steps, such as a scheduler, calendar, or messaging app.

Delaying and Scheduling with Zapier

Once you have the right dates and times ready, Zapier provides tools to pause runs or schedule actions to occur at specific times.

Use Delay by Zapier

The Delay by Zapier app lets you pause a Zap between steps.

Add a new action in your Zap and select Delay by Zapier.
Choose one of the delay types, such as:
- Delay For: pause for a specific amount of time, like 10 minutes or 3 hours.
- Delay Until: pause until a particular date and time.
For Delay For, enter the duration and unit.
For Delay Until, map a date field or a Formatter output that indicates when to resume.
Test the step if possible, then continue configuring the Zap.

This feature is useful for sending follow-up messages, time-based notifications, or staged onboarding sequences.

Schedule Zaps to Run at Specific Times

To run your automation on a repeating schedule, use the Schedule tool.

Create a new Zap and choose a scheduling app or trigger that runs at set times.
Configure how often the Zap should run, such as daily, weekly, or at custom intervals.
Specify the exact time of day and time zone where applicable.
Add your subsequent actions, using Formatter steps when you need to generate formatted dates for your target apps.

This approach is ideal for reports, summaries, or recurring notifications.

Best Practices for Date and Time in Zapier

To keep your automations reliable and easy to maintain, follow these practical guidelines:

Normalize early: Use Formatter by Zapier near the start of your Zap to standardize time zones and formats.
Document format choices: Keep notes within your Zap naming conventions so others know which formats you use.
Test across time zones: When your team or customers span multiple regions, test scenarios in each relevant time zone.
Use relative expressions carefully: When adding or subtracting time, double-check whether you should base the calculation on now or on a specific event date.

Where to Learn More About Zapier Date Features

For deeper reference material, see the official date and time help section on the Zapier site: Zapier Date and Time Help Center. It provides up-to-date examples and clarifies edge cases such as daylight saving transitions and uncommon date formats.

If you want expert guidance on designing efficient, search-friendly automation documentation or tutorials around Zapier and other workflow tools, you can also explore consulting resources such as Consultevo.

By understanding how Zapier processes dates, manages time zones, and uses Formatter and Delay steps, you can build time-sensitive workflows that run accurately and consistently for every user and every region.

Need Help With Zapier?

Work with ConsultEvo — a

Zapier Certified Solution Partner

helping teams build reliable, scalable automations that actually move the business forward.

Get Zapier Help