Format Datetime in Snowflake — Examples & 2025 Guide

Formatting datetime values in Snowflake is a critical skill for data engineers and analysts. The format of your date and time data impacts everything from reporting to integrations with other systems. However, mastering the syntax or keeping up with the multiple formatting functions can be time-consuming — and that’s where AI2sql platform simplifies your workflow. With AI2sql, you can convert natural language requests (like "show me order dates as DD-MM-YYYY") directly into production-ready Snowflake SQL, saving teams hours every week.

This guide is specifically for learners and Snowflake practitioners who want a reliable, up-to-date tutorial on datetime formatting for 2025. You’ll get actionable code, top tips, plus the peace of mind that you can automate SQL generation using AI2sql.

How to Format Datetime in Snowflake

Snowflake supports robust datetime formatting via SQL functions. The two main approaches are:

• TO_VARCHAR: Cast datetime to string in a specific format

• TO_TIMESTAMP/TO_DATE: Convert a string back to a timestamp or date

• ALTER SESSION: Set the session datetime output format for easier viewing

Real-World Examples

1. Format a Timestamp as DD-MM-YYYY HH24:MI:SS

SELECT TO_VARCHAR(CURRENT_TIMESTAMP, 'DD-MM-YYYY HH24:MI:SS') AS formatted_ts;

2. Format Date to Only Show Month and Year

SELECT TO_VARCHAR(DATE_COL, 'YYYY-MM') AS month_year FROM orders;

3. Convert String to Timestamp with Custom Format

SELECT TO_TIMESTAMP('24/06/2024 14:30:00', 'DD/MM/YYYY HH24:MI:SS') AS ts_parsed;

Snowflake Datetime Format Benchmark (2025)

Tips for Formatting Datetime in Snowflake

• Always use 24-hour HH24 for unambiguous times.

• Set DATE_OUTPUT_FORMAT for your session for default formatting.

• Refer to the official Snowflake TO_VARCHAR docs for exhaustive format options.

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Conclusion

Understanding how to format datetime values in Snowflake is a key part of reliable data analysis, reporting, and ETL. Whether you’re working with standard timestamps or custom date strings, the right format ensures clear, consistent output across your enterprise. With AI2sql, you get instant, enterprise-grade SQL code for datetime formatting — perfect for teams of any size. Trusted by 50,000+ developers, AI2sql lets you focus on analysis, not syntax. Try AI2sql for free and accelerate your Snowflake workflows today.