How to Handle 'psycopg2.errors.invaliddatetimeformat' Error in Python

Last Updated : 23 Jul, 2025

The psycopg2 library is a popular PostgreSQL database adapter for Python. While working with databases, it's common to encounter various types of errors. One such error is psycopg2.errors.InvalidDatetimeFormat. This article will delve into what causes the psycopg2.errors.InvalidDatetimeFormat error and provide practical solutions with correct code examples.

What is 'psycopg2.errors.InvalidDatetimeFormat' Error?

The psycopg2.errors.InvalidDatetimeFormat error is raised when the datetime value provided in a SQL query does not match the expected format in the PostgreSQL database. This mismatch can occur due to various reasons, such as incorrect string formatting, timezone issues, or improper data types.

Common Causes of 'psycopg2.errors.InvalidDatetimeFormat' Error

Cause 1: Incorrect String Format

One of the most common causes of this error is providing a datetime string in an incorrect format. PostgreSQL expects datetime values in specific formats, and any deviation can lead to an error.

Python 
import psycopg2

# Correct datetime format
datetime_value = '2024-22-07 14:30:00'  # Invalid month

connection = psycopg2.connect(database="postgres1", user="postgres", password="1234")
cursor = connection.cursor()
    
    # Create table if it doesn't exist
cursor.execute("""
        CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS events (
        id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
        event_time TIMESTAMP
    )
    """)
    
    # Insert data into the table
cursor.execute("INSERT INTO events (event_time) VALUES (%s)", (datetime_value,))
connection.commit()
    
print("Data inserted successfully")

cursor.close()
connection.close()

Output

1


Cause 2: Mismatched Data Types

Another reason for this error is passing a non-datetime data type when the database expects a datetime value. This can happen if the data type conversion is not handled properly in the code.

Python 
import psycopg2

# Incorrect data type
datetime_value = 1234567890  # Integer instead of datetime

connection = psycopg2.connect(database="postgres1", user="postgres", password="1234")
cursor = connection.cursor()
    
    # Create table if it doesn't exist
cursor.execute("""
        CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS events (
        id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
        event_time TIMESTAMP
    )
    """)
    
    # Insert data into the table
cursor.execute("INSERT INTO events (event_time) VALUES (%s)", (datetime_value,))
connection.commit()
    
print("Data inserted successfully")

cursor.close()
connection.close()

Output

2

Approaches to Solve 'psycopg2.errors.InvalidDatetimeFormat' Error

Approach 1: Correcting the String Format

Ensure that the datetime string is in the correct format before passing it to the SQL query. PostgreSQL typically expects datetime strings in the format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MI:SS.

Python 
import psycopg2

#Correct Information
datetime_value = '2024-07-22 14:30:00'  

connection = psycopg2.connect(database="postgres1", user="postgres", password="1234")
cursor = connection.cursor()
    
    # Create table if it doesn't exist
cursor.execute("""
        CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS events (
        id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
        event_time TIMESTAMP
    )
    """)
    
    # Insert data into the table
cursor.execute("INSERT INTO events (event_time) VALUES (%s)", (datetime_value,))
connection.commit()
    
print("Data inserted successfully")

cursor.close()
connection.close()

Output

Data inserted successfully

Approach 2: Ensuring Correct Data Types

Use Python's datetime module to handle datetime values and ensure that the correct data type is passed to the SQL query.

Python 
import psycopg2

#Correct Information
datetime_value = '2024-07-22 14:30:00'  

connection = psycopg2.connect(database="postgres1", user="postgres", password="1234")
cursor = connection.cursor()
    
    # Create table if it doesn't exist
cursor.execute("""
        CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS events (
        id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
        event_time TIMESTAMP
    )
    """)
    
    # Insert data into the table
cursor.execute("INSERT INTO events (event_time) VALUES (%s)", (datetime_value,))
connection.commit()
    
print("Data inserted successfully")

cursor.close()
connection.close()

Output

Data inserted successfully

Conclusion

The psycopg2.errors.InvalidDatetimeFormat error can be a common stumbling block when working with PostgreSQL databases. By understanding its causes—incorrect string formats, mismatched data types, and timezone issues—and applying the appropriate solutions, you can effectively handle this error. Ensuring correct datetime formats and data types, along with proper timezone handling, will help maintain smooth database operations and prevent interruptions in your applications.

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