[C#] Format DateTime as String Examples

Some examples and tips on C# DateTime formatting using string.Format() or .ToString() methods.

Standard DateTime format

Standard formats are typically used when you need a fast string representation of your DateTime object based on current culture.

DateTime date = DateTime.Now;
// Short date:
string.Format("{0:d}", date)   // 1/18/2026
// Long date:
string.Format("{0:D}", date)   // Sunday, January 18, 2026 
// Short time:
string.Format("{0:t}", date)   // 6:42 PM
// Long time:
string.Format("{0:T}", date)   // 6:42:05 PM
// Full date/time (short time):
string.Format("{0:f}", date)   // Sunday, January 18, 2026 6:42 PM
// Full date/time (long time):
string.Format("{0:F}", date)   // Sunday, January 18, 2026 6:42:05 PM
// General  date/time (long time):
string.Format("{0:g}", date)   // 1/18/2026 6:42 PM
// General  date/time (long time):
string.Format("{0:G}", date)   // 1/18/2026 6:42:05 PM
// Sortable date/time:
string.Format("{0:s}", date)   // 2026-01-18T18:42:05

Custom DateTime format

Custom formats are useful when you need more flexibility on the output string format.

DateTime date = DateTime.Now;
string.Format("{0:MM/dd/yyyy}", date)   // 01/18/2026
string.Format("{0:MMMM dd, yyyy}", date)// January 18, 2026
string.Format("{0:MMM yyyy}", date)     // Jan 2026
string.Format("{0:hh:mm tt}", date)     // 06:42 PM

// Year patterns:
string.Format("{0:yy yyy yyyy}", date)  // 26 2026 2026
// Month patterns:
string.Format("{0:MM MMM MMMM}", date)  // 01 Jan January
// Day patterns:
string.Format("{0:dd ddd dddd}", date)  // 18 Sun Sunday
// Hour
string.Format("{0:hh HH tt}", date)     // 06 18 PM
// Minute, second, second fraction 
string.Format("{0:mm ss ffff}", date)   // 42 05 9180

Format DateTime for a specific culture

When you format a DateTime with DateTime.ToString() you can also specify the culture to use.


using System.Globalization;
// ...
DateTime date = DateTime.Now;
// InvariantCulture 
CultureInfo invC = CultureInfo.InvariantCulture;
date.ToString("f", invC)        // Sunday, 18 January 2026 18:42 
date.ToString("d", invC)        // 01/18/2026 
date.ToString("t", invC)        // 18:42 
// German CultureInfo 
CultureInfo deC = new CultureInfo("de-De");
date.ToString("f", deC)        // Sonntag, 18. Januar 2026 18:42 
date.ToString("d", deC)        // 18.01.2026 
date.ToString("t", deC)        // 18:42 
// French CultureInfo 
CultureInfo frC = new CultureInfo("fr-FR");
date.ToString("f", frC)        // dimanche 18 janvier 2026 18:42 
date.ToString("d", frC)        // 18/01/2026 
date.ToString("t", frC)        // 18:42 
// Spanish CultureInfo 
CultureInfo esC = new CultureInfo("es-ES");
date.ToString("f", esC)        // domingo, 18 de enero de 2026 18:42 
date.ToString("d", esC)        // 18/01/2026 
date.ToString("t", esC)        // 18:42

Character escape and text

Any characters not used by the formatter is reported in the result string. If you need to enter text with reserved characters that must be inserted between two ' (single quote).

DateTime date = DateTime.Now;
// Escaped date text
string.Format("{0:'y:' yyyy' m:' M 'd:' d}", date)  // y: 2026 m: 1 d: 18 
// Force time format to use ':' as separator ()
string.Format("{0:HH':'mm}", date)                  // 18:42

TOOL: Test you format string

A simple tool for test your format string.