[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)   // 5/9/2026
// Long date:
string.Format("{0:D}", date)   // Saturday, May 9, 2026 
// Short time:
string.Format("{0:t}", date)   // 12:59 PM
// Long time:
string.Format("{0:T}", date)   // 12:59:34 PM
// Full date/time (short time):
string.Format("{0:f}", date)   // Saturday, May 9, 2026 12:59 PM
// Full date/time (long time):
string.Format("{0:F}", date)   // Saturday, May 9, 2026 12:59:34 PM
// General  date/time (long time):
string.Format("{0:g}", date)   // 5/9/2026 12:59 PM
// General  date/time (long time):
string.Format("{0:G}", date)   // 5/9/2026 12:59:34 PM
// Sortable date/time:
string.Format("{0:s}", date)   // 2026-05-09T12:59:34

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)   // 05/09/2026
string.Format("{0:MMMM dd, yyyy}", date)// May 09, 2026
string.Format("{0:MMM yyyy}", date)     // May 2026
string.Format("{0:hh:mm tt}", date)     // 12:59 PM

// Year patterns:
string.Format("{0:yy yyy yyyy}", date)  // 26 2026 2026
// Month patterns:
string.Format("{0:MM MMM MMMM}", date)  // 05 May May
// Day patterns:
string.Format("{0:dd ddd dddd}", date)  // 09 Sat Saturday
// Hour
string.Format("{0:hh HH tt}", date)     // 12 12 PM
// Minute, second, second fraction 
string.Format("{0:mm ss ffff}", date)   // 59 34 6539

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)        // Saturday, 09 May 2026 12:59 
date.ToString("d", invC)        // 05/09/2026 
date.ToString("t", invC)        // 12:59 
// German CultureInfo 
CultureInfo deC = new CultureInfo("de-De");
date.ToString("f", deC)        // Samstag, 9. Mai 2026 12:59 
date.ToString("d", deC)        // 09.05.2026 
date.ToString("t", deC)        // 12:59 
// French CultureInfo 
CultureInfo frC = new CultureInfo("fr-FR");
date.ToString("f", frC)        // samedi 9 mai 2026 12:59 
date.ToString("d", frC)        // 09/05/2026 
date.ToString("t", frC)        // 12:59 
// Spanish CultureInfo 
CultureInfo esC = new CultureInfo("es-ES");
date.ToString("f", esC)        // sábado, 9 de mayo de 2026 12:59 
date.ToString("d", esC)        // 09/05/2026 
date.ToString("t", esC)        // 12:59

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: 5 d: 9 
// Force time format to use ':' as separator ()
string.Format("{0:HH':'mm}", date)                  // 12:59

TOOL: Test you format string

A simple tool for test your format string.