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"I want to auto-calculate age from birthday" "Manual yearly updates are tedious"
Using HubSpot's "Time since" calculation property, you can auto-calculate the elapsed years (age) from a birthday property to today.
What are Calculation Properties?
Calculation properties are special properties that perform automatic calculations based on other property values.
Available Plans
| Plan | Calculation Properties | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Free/Starter | Not available | - |
| Professional | Available | Up to 5 |
| Enterprise | Available | Unlimited |
Calculation Types
Date-related calculations include:
| Type | Description | Example Use |
|---|---|---|
| Time between | Period between two dates | Contract duration |
| Time since | Past date to today | Age calculation |
| Time until | Today to future date | Days until contract end |
How Time Since Works
Principle
Time since calculates the period from a date property value to today's date.
Formula (concept):
Elapsed period = Today's date - Date property value
Display Units
Results can display in these units:
| Unit | Example | Recommended for Age |
|---|---|---|
| Years | 34 years | Recommended (ideal for age) |
| Months | 416 months | For detailed analysis |
| Weeks | 1,806 weeks | Not used |
| Days | 12,645 days | Not used |
Setup Steps
1. Open Property Settings
- Click Settings (gear icon)
- Select "Properties" from left menu
- Select "Contacts" tab
2. Create New Property
- Click "Create property"
- Enter:
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Object type | Contact |
| Group | Contact information (or custom) |
| Label | Age |
| Internal name | age (auto-generated) |
3. Set Field Type
- Click "Field type" tab
- Field type: Select "Calculation"
- Calculation type: Select "Time since"
4. Configure Calculation Details
- Start date property: Select "Birthday" (custom property)
- Output unit: Select "Years"
- Decimal places: "0" recommended (integer display)
5. Complete Creation
- Click "Create"
- Property created, auto-calculation begins
Setup Flow
Label: Age / Group: Contact information
Select "Calculation"
Select "Time since"
Start date: Birthday property
Unit: Years / Decimal: 0
Verification
Test Method
- Create or select test contact
- Enter date in birthday property
- Wait and check "Age" property
Note: Calculation properties aren't real-time; they reflect within minutes to hours.
Expected Results
| Birthday | Today | Calculated Age |
|---|---|---|
| 1990/06/15 | 2025/01/29 | 34 years |
| 2000/01/01 | 2025/01/29 | 25 years |
| 1985/12/31 | 2025/01/29 | 39 years |
About Calculation Accuracy
Understanding Approximate Values
Time since results are approximate.
Characteristics:
- Calculated as 1 year = 365.25 days
- Month/day consideration isn't precise
- May show +1 year right after birthday
Practical Impact
For age group segments (10-year ranges), ~1 year error is practically acceptable.
Consider alternative methods if precise age management is required.
Official Documentation Reference
See HubSpot's official knowledge base for calculation property details:
- "Create calculation and rollup properties"
- "Use today's date in the CRM"
- "Property field types in HubSpot"
Troubleshooting
Calculation Result Not Showing
Causes and fixes:
- Birthday property empty: Enter a value
- Birthday format invalid: Confirm date picker type
- Calculation delay: Wait a few hours
- Plan limitation: Confirm Professional or above
Calculation Result Incorrect
Causes and fixes:
- Unit setting error: Confirm set to years
- Start date setting error: Confirm correct property selected
- Birthday data error: Confirm year isn't in the future
Summary
- Calculation type is "Time since": Elapsed period from birthday to today
- Output unit is "Years": Ideal for age display
- Decimal "0" recommended: Display as integer
- Understand approximate values: Possible ~1 year error
- Professional or above required: Check plan requirements
Create calculation properties to auto-calculate age and expand your customer data utilization.