Mastering Dates, Times, Time Zones, and Recurrence in Calendar to Sheets

Step 1 – Understand Date and Time Columns

• Each event row has Start Date, Start Time, End Date, and End Time columns.
• Start Date / End Date – Must match your Google Sheets locale format (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY or DD/MM/YYYY).
• Start Time / End Time – Also follow your locale (e.g., HH:MM 24-hour or hh:mm AM/PM 12-hour).
• If End Date is blank, the add-on assumes it's the same as Start Date.

Step 2 – Set the Correct Time Zone

• Use the Time Zone column to specify where the event takes place.
• Format: IANA time zone code (e.g., America/Sao_Paulo, Europe/London).
• Leaving it blank will use your calendar's default time zone.
• Avoid abbreviations like EST or GMT — they may not sync correctly.

Step 3 – Reveal and Configure Recurrence Fields

Click the + icon above the row to see recurrence-related columns:

• Repeat – Daily, Weekly, Monthly, or Yearly.
• Interval – How many units between repeats (e.g., 2 with Daily = every 2 days).
• Count – Number of times the event should occur.
• Until – End date for the recurrence (must follow your sheet's date format).
• By Day – Days the event repeats (e.g., Monday, 3rd Friday).

Step 4 – Common Recurrence Examples

Step 5 – Validate Before Export

Before running Export Sheet:

• Ensure dates and times match your locale format.
• Confirm the Time Zone column uses valid IANA codes.
• Check recurrence settings are logical and consistent.
• Leave unused recurrence fields blank to avoid unintended repeats.

Conclusion

Formatting dates, times, time zones, and recurrence patterns correctly is key to smooth syncing with Google Calendar. Once you've mastered these fields, you'll avoid most of the common pitfalls and keep your schedule running flawlessly.

Next: Read our Export Guide to push your newly formatted events back to Google Calendar with one click.