diff --git a/services/aur/aur.service.js b/services/aur/aur.service.js
index ee8381f7245c1..bcba06c1f24ff 100644
--- a/services/aur/aur.service.js
+++ b/services/aur/aur.service.js
@@ -1,10 +1,8 @@
 import Joi from 'joi'
-import {
-  floorCount as floorCountColor,
-  age as ageColor,
-} from '../color-formatters.js'
+import { renderDateBadge } from '../date.js'
+import { floorCount as floorCountColor } from '../color-formatters.js'
 import { renderLicenseBadge } from '../licenses.js'
-import { metric, formatDate } from '../text-formatters.js'
+import { metric } from '../text-formatters.js'
 import { nonNegativeInteger } from '../validators.js'
 import {
   BaseJsonService,
@@ -243,16 +241,10 @@ class AurLastModified extends BaseAurService {
 
   static defaultBadgeData = { label: 'last modified' }
 
-  static render({ date }) {
-    const color = ageColor(date)
-    const message = formatDate(date)
-    return { color, message }
-  }
-
   async handle({ packageName }) {
     const json = await this.fetch({ packageName })
     const date = 1000 * parseInt(json.results[0].LastModified)
-    return this.constructor.render({ date })
+    return renderDateBadge(date)
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/services/bitbucket/bitbucket-last-commit.service.js b/services/bitbucket/bitbucket-last-commit.service.js
index ca6f4c241b5d1..45a60ffb07585 100644
--- a/services/bitbucket/bitbucket-last-commit.service.js
+++ b/services/bitbucket/bitbucket-last-commit.service.js
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import Joi from 'joi'
-import { age as ageColor } from '../color-formatters.js'
+import { renderDateBadge } from '../date.js'
 import { BaseJsonService, NotFound, pathParam, queryParam } from '../index.js'
-import { formatDate } from '../text-formatters.js'
 import { relativeUri } from '../validators.js'
 
 const schema = Joi.object({
@@ -43,13 +42,6 @@ export default class BitbucketLastCommit extends BaseJsonService {
 
   static defaultBadgeData = { label: 'last commit' }
 
-  static render({ commitDate }) {
-    return {
-      message: formatDate(commitDate),
-      color: ageColor(Date.parse(commitDate)),
-    }
-  }
-
   async fetch({ user, repo, branch, path }) {
     // https://developer.atlassian.com/cloud/bitbucket/rest/api-group-commits/#api-repositories-workspace-repo-slug-commits-get
     return this._requestJson({
@@ -76,6 +68,6 @@ export default class BitbucketLastCommit extends BaseJsonService {
 
     if (!commit) throw new NotFound({ prettyMessage: 'no commits found' })
 
-    return this.constructor.render({ commitDate: commit.date })
+    return renderDateBadge(commit.date)
   }
 }
diff --git a/services/chrome-web-store/chrome-web-store-last-updated.service.js b/services/chrome-web-store/chrome-web-store-last-updated.service.js
index 6bea2500e7caf..533074c8740d2 100644
--- a/services/chrome-web-store/chrome-web-store-last-updated.service.js
+++ b/services/chrome-web-store/chrome-web-store-last-updated.service.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-import { age } from '../color-formatters.js'
-import { formatDate } from '../text-formatters.js'
+import { renderDateBadge } from '../date.js'
 import { NotFound, pathParams } from '../index.js'
 import BaseChromeWebStoreService from './chrome-web-store-base.js'
 
@@ -31,11 +30,6 @@ export default class ChromeWebStoreLastUpdated extends BaseChromeWebStoreService
       throw new NotFound({ prettyMessage: 'not found' })
     }
 
-    const lastUpdatedDate = Date.parse(lastUpdated)
-
-    return {
-      message: formatDate(lastUpdatedDate),
-      color: age(lastUpdatedDate),
-    }
+    return renderDateBadge(lastUpdated)
   }
 }
diff --git a/services/color-formatters.js b/services/color-formatters.js
index 968aa2b2f9894..f0892a76db666 100644
--- a/services/color-formatters.js
+++ b/services/color-formatters.js
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
  */
 
 import pep440 from '@renovatebot/pep440'
-import dayjs from 'dayjs'
 
 /**
  * Determines the color used for a badge based on version.
@@ -175,24 +174,7 @@ function colorScale(steps, colors, reversed) {
   }
 }
 
-/**
- * Determines the color used for a badge according to the age.
- * Age is calculated as days elapsed till current date.
- * The color varies from bright green to red as the age increases
- * or the other way around if `reverse` is given `true`.
- *
- * @param {string} date Date string
- * @param {boolean} reversed Reverse the color scale a.k.a. the older, the better
- * @returns {string} Badge color
- */
-function age(date, reversed = false) {
-  const colorByAge = colorScale([7, 30, 180, 365, 730], undefined, !reversed)
-  const daysElapsed = dayjs().diff(dayjs(date), 'days')
-  return colorByAge(daysElapsed)
-}
-
 export {
-  age,
   colorScale,
   coveragePercentage,
   downloadCount,
diff --git a/services/color-formatters.spec.js b/services/color-formatters.spec.js
index 6921b0d90803e..735e07c3398c9 100644
--- a/services/color-formatters.spec.js
+++ b/services/color-formatters.spec.js
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import { expect } from 'chai'
 import { forCases, given, test } from 'sazerac'
 import {
-  age,
   colorScale,
   coveragePercentage,
   letterScore,
@@ -53,46 +52,6 @@ describe('Color formatters', function () {
     given('Z').expect('red')
   })
 
-  const monthsAgo = months => {
-    const result = new Date()
-    // This looks wack but it works.
-    result.setMonth(result.getMonth() - months)
-    return result
-  }
-  test(age, () => {
-    given(Date.now())
-      .describe('when given the current timestamp')
-      .expect('brightgreen')
-    given(new Date())
-      .describe('when given the current Date')
-      .expect('brightgreen')
-    given(new Date(2001, 1, 1))
-      .describe('when given a Date many years ago')
-      .expect('red')
-    given(monthsAgo(2))
-      .describe('when given a Date two months ago')
-      .expect('yellowgreen')
-    given(monthsAgo(15))
-      .describe('when given a Date 15 months ago')
-      .expect('orange')
-    // --- reversed --- //
-    given(Date.now(), true)
-      .describe('when given the current timestamp and reversed')
-      .expect('red')
-    given(new Date(), true)
-      .describe('when given the current Date and reversed')
-      .expect('red')
-    given(new Date(2001, 1, 1), true)
-      .describe('when given a Date many years ago and reversed')
-      .expect('brightgreen')
-    given(monthsAgo(2), true)
-      .describe('when given a Date two months ago and reversed')
-      .expect('yellow')
-    given(monthsAgo(15), true)
-      .describe('when given a Date 15 months ago and reversed')
-      .expect('green')
-  })
-
   test(version, () => {
     forCases([given('1.0'), given(9), given(1.0)]).expect('blue')
 
diff --git a/services/date.js b/services/date.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..f727c773d5cf6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/services/date.js
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+/**
+ * Commonly-used functions for rendering badges containing a date
+ *
+ * @module
+ */
+
+import dayjs from 'dayjs'
+import calendar from 'dayjs/plugin/calendar.js'
+import customParseFormat from 'dayjs/plugin/customParseFormat.js'
+import { colorScale } from './color-formatters.js'
+import { InvalidResponse } from './index.js'
+
+dayjs.extend(calendar)
+dayjs.extend(customParseFormat)
+
+/**
+ * Parse and validate a string date into a dayjs object. Use this helper
+ * in preference to invoking dayjs directly when parsing a date from string.
+ *
+ * @param {...any} args - Variadic: Arguments to pass through to dayjs
+ * @returns {dayjs} - Parsed object
+ * @throws {InvalidResponse} - Error if validation fails
+ * @see https://day.js.org/docs/en/parse/string
+ * @see https://day.js.org/docs/en/parse/string-format
+ * @see https://day.js.org/docs/en/parse/is-valid
+ * @example
+ * parseDate('2024-01-01')
+ * parseDate('31/01/2024', 'DD/MM/YYYY')
+ * parseDate('2018 Enero 15', 'YYYY MMMM DD', 'es')
+ */
+function parseDate(...args) {
+  let date
+  if (args.length >= 2) {
+    // always use strict mode if format arg is supplied
+    date = dayjs(...args, true)
+  } else {
+    date = dayjs(...args)
+  }
+  if (!date.isValid()) {
+    throw new InvalidResponse({ prettyMessage: 'invalid date' })
+  }
+  return date
+}
+
+/**
+ * Returns a formatted date string without the year based on the value of input date param d.
+ *
+ * @param {Date | string | number | dayjs } d JS Date object, string, unix timestamp or dayjs object
+ * @returns {string} Formatted date string
+ */
+function formatDate(d) {
+  const date = parseDate(d)
+  const dateString = date.calendar(null, {
+    lastDay: '[yesterday]',
+    sameDay: '[today]',
+    lastWeek: '[last] dddd',
+    sameElse: 'MMMM YYYY',
+  })
+  // Trim current year from date string
+  return dateString.replace(` ${dayjs().year()}`, '').toLowerCase()
+}
+
+/**
+ * Determines the color used for a badge according to the age.
+ * Age is calculated as days elapsed till current date.
+ * The color varies from bright green to red as the age increases
+ * or the other way around if `reverse` is given `true`.
+ *
+ * @param {Date | string | number | dayjs } date JS Date object, string, unix timestamp or dayjs object
+ * @param {boolean} reversed Reverse the color scale (the older, the better)
+ * @returns {string} Badge color
+ */
+function age(date, reversed = false) {
+  const colorByAge = colorScale([7, 30, 180, 365, 730], undefined, !reversed)
+  const daysElapsed = dayjs().diff(parseDate(date), 'days')
+  return colorByAge(daysElapsed)
+}
+
+/**
+ * Creates a badge object that displays a date
+ *
+ * @param {Date | string | number | dayjs } date JS Date object, string, unix timestamp or dayjs object
+ * @param {boolean} reversed Reverse the color scale (the older, the better)
+ * @returns {object} A badge object that has two properties: message, and color
+ */
+function renderDateBadge(date, reversed = false) {
+  const d = parseDate(date)
+  const color = age(d, reversed)
+  const message = formatDate(d)
+  return { message, color }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Returns a relative date from the input timestamp.
+ * For example, day after tomorrow's timestamp will return 'in 2 days'.
+ *
+ * @param {number | string} timestamp - Unix timestamp
+ * @returns {string} Relative date from the unix timestamp
+ */
+function formatRelativeDate(timestamp) {
+  const parsedDate = dayjs.unix(parseInt(timestamp, 10))
+  if (!parsedDate.isValid()) {
+    return 'invalid date'
+  }
+  return dayjs().to(parsedDate).toLowerCase()
+}
+
+export { parseDate, renderDateBadge, formatDate, formatRelativeDate, age }
diff --git a/services/date.spec.js b/services/date.spec.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..fc74268b3c692
--- /dev/null
+++ b/services/date.spec.js
@@ -0,0 +1,132 @@
+import { expect } from 'chai'
+import { test, given } from 'sazerac'
+import sinon from 'sinon'
+import { parseDate, formatDate, formatRelativeDate, age } from './date.js'
+import { InvalidResponse } from './index.js'
+
+describe('parseDate', function () {
+  it('parses valid inputs', function () {
+    expect(parseDate('2024-01-01').valueOf()).to.equal(
+      new Date('2024-01-01').valueOf(),
+    )
+    expect(parseDate('Jan 01 01:00:00 2024 GMT').valueOf()).to.equal(
+      new Date('2024-01-01T01:00:00.000Z').valueOf(),
+    )
+    expect(parseDate('31/01/2024', 'DD/MM/YYYY').valueOf()).to.equal(
+      new Date('2024-01-31T00:00:00.000Z').valueOf(),
+    )
+  })
+
+  it('throws when given invalid inputs', function () {
+    // not a date
+    expect(() => parseDate('foo')).to.throw(InvalidResponse)
+    expect(() => parseDate([])).to.throw(InvalidResponse)
+    expect(() => parseDate(null)).to.throw(InvalidResponse)
+
+    // invalid dates (only works with format string)
+    expect(() => parseDate('2024-02-31', 'YYYY-MM-DD')).to.throw(
+      InvalidResponse,
+    )
+    expect(() => parseDate('2024-12-32', 'YYYY-MM-DD')).to.throw(
+      InvalidResponse,
+    )
+
+    // non-standard format with no format string
+    expect(() => parseDate('31/01/2024')).to.throw(InvalidResponse)
+
+    // parse format doesn't match date
+    expect(() => parseDate('2024-01-01', 'YYYYMMDDHHmmss')).to.throw(
+      InvalidResponse,
+    )
+  })
+
+  test(formatDate, () => {
+    given(1465513200000)
+      .describe('when given a timestamp in june 2016')
+      .expect('june 2016')
+  })
+
+  context('in october', function () {
+    let clock
+    beforeEach(function () {
+      clock = sinon.useFakeTimers(new Date(2017, 9, 15).getTime())
+    })
+    afterEach(function () {
+      clock.restore()
+    })
+
+    test(formatDate, () => {
+      given(new Date(2017, 0, 1).getTime())
+        .describe('when given the beginning of this year')
+        .expect('january')
+    })
+  })
+
+  context('in october', function () {
+    let clock
+    beforeEach(function () {
+      clock = sinon.useFakeTimers(new Date(2018, 9, 29).getTime())
+    })
+    afterEach(function () {
+      clock.restore()
+    })
+
+    test(formatRelativeDate, () => {
+      given(new Date(2018, 9, 31).getTime() / 1000)
+        .describe('when given the end of october')
+        .expect('in 2 days')
+    })
+
+    test(formatRelativeDate, () => {
+      given(new Date(2018, 9, 1).getTime() / 1000)
+        .describe('when given the beginning of october')
+        .expect('a month ago')
+    })
+
+    test(formatRelativeDate, () => {
+      given(9999999999999)
+        .describe('when given invalid date')
+        .expect('invalid date')
+    })
+  })
+
+  const monthsAgo = months => {
+    const result = new Date()
+    // This looks wack but it works.
+    result.setMonth(result.getMonth() - months)
+    return result
+  }
+  test(age, () => {
+    given(Date.now())
+      .describe('when given the current timestamp')
+      .expect('brightgreen')
+    given(new Date())
+      .describe('when given the current Date')
+      .expect('brightgreen')
+    given(new Date(2001, 1, 1))
+      .describe('when given a Date many years ago')
+      .expect('red')
+    given(monthsAgo(2))
+      .describe('when given a Date two months ago')
+      .expect('yellowgreen')
+    given(monthsAgo(15))
+      .describe('when given a Date 15 months ago')
+      .expect('orange')
+    // --- reversed --- //
+    given(Date.now(), true)
+      .describe('when given the current timestamp and reversed')
+      .expect('red')
+    given(new Date(), true)
+      .describe('when given the current Date and reversed')
+      .expect('red')
+    given(new Date(2001, 1, 1), true)
+      .describe('when given a Date many years ago and reversed')
+      .expect('brightgreen')
+    given(monthsAgo(2), true)
+      .describe('when given a Date two months ago and reversed')
+      .expect('yellow')
+    given(monthsAgo(15), true)
+      .describe('when given a Date 15 months ago and reversed')
+      .expect('green')
+  })
+})
diff --git a/services/date/date.service.js b/services/date/date.service.js
index 84830b71dffd4..11e6fa3cb2dd3 100644
--- a/services/date/date.service.js
+++ b/services/date/date.service.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { formatRelativeDate } from '../text-formatters.js'
+import { formatRelativeDate } from '../date.js'
 import { BaseService, pathParams } from '../index.js'
 
 const description = `
diff --git a/services/eclipse-marketplace/eclipse-marketplace-update.service.js b/services/eclipse-marketplace/eclipse-marketplace-update.service.js
index 247dbda264cc6..ab16e77086d3d 100644
--- a/services/eclipse-marketplace/eclipse-marketplace-update.service.js
+++ b/services/eclipse-marketplace/eclipse-marketplace-update.service.js
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import Joi from 'joi'
 import { pathParams } from '../index.js'
-import { formatDate } from '../text-formatters.js'
-import { age as ageColor } from '../color-formatters.js'
+import { renderDateBadge } from '../date.js'
 import { nonNegativeInteger } from '../validators.js'
 import EclipseMarketplaceBase from './eclipse-marketplace-base.js'
 
@@ -34,19 +33,12 @@ export default class EclipseMarketplaceUpdate extends EclipseMarketplaceBase {
 
   static defaultBadgeData = { label: 'updated' }
 
-  static render({ date }) {
-    return {
-      message: formatDate(date),
-      color: ageColor(date),
-    }
-  }
-
   async handle({ name }) {
     const { marketplace } = await this.fetch({
       name,
       schema: updateResponseSchema,
     })
     const date = 1000 * parseInt(marketplace.node.changed)
-    return this.constructor.render({ date })
+    return renderDateBadge(date)
   }
 }
diff --git a/services/factorio-mod-portal/factorio-mod-portal.service.js b/services/factorio-mod-portal/factorio-mod-portal.service.js
index c7ea96ac9489c..f8ab8eadea741 100644
--- a/services/factorio-mod-portal/factorio-mod-portal.service.js
+++ b/services/factorio-mod-portal/factorio-mod-portal.service.js
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import Joi from 'joi'
 import { BaseJsonService, pathParams } from '../index.js'
-import { age } from '../color-formatters.js'
-import { formatDate } from '../text-formatters.js'
+import { renderDateBadge } from '../date.js'
 import { nonNegativeInteger } from '../validators.js'
 import { renderDownloadsBadge } from '../downloads.js'
 import { renderVersionBadge } from '../version.js'
@@ -131,18 +130,9 @@ class FactorioModPortalLastUpdated extends BaseFactorioModPortalService {
 
   static defaultBadgeData = { label: 'last updated' }
 
-  static render({ lastUpdated }) {
-    return {
-      message: formatDate(lastUpdated),
-      color: age(lastUpdated),
-    }
-  }
-
   async handle({ modName }) {
     const resp = await this.fetch({ modName })
-    return this.constructor.render({
-      lastUpdated: resp.latest_release.released_at,
-    })
+    return renderDateBadge(resp.latest_release.released_at)
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/services/galaxytoolshed/galaxytoolshed-activity.service.js b/services/galaxytoolshed/galaxytoolshed-activity.service.js
index 4389f2fd54aa5..c0f7cc087bbc0 100644
--- a/services/galaxytoolshed/galaxytoolshed-activity.service.js
+++ b/services/galaxytoolshed/galaxytoolshed-activity.service.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { pathParams } from '../index.js'
-import { formatDate } from '../text-formatters.js'
+import { renderDateBadge } from '../date.js'
 import BaseGalaxyToolshedService from './galaxytoolshed-base.js'
 
 export default class GalaxyToolshedCreatedDate extends BaseGalaxyToolshedService {
@@ -29,11 +29,6 @@ export default class GalaxyToolshedCreatedDate extends BaseGalaxyToolshedService
 
   static defaultBadgeData = {
     label: 'created date',
-    color: 'blue',
-  }
-
-  static render({ date }) {
-    return { message: formatDate(date) }
   }
 
   async handle({ repository, owner }) {
@@ -42,6 +37,6 @@ export default class GalaxyToolshedCreatedDate extends BaseGalaxyToolshedService
       owner,
     })
     const { create_time: date } = response[0]
-    return this.constructor.render({ date })
+    return renderDateBadge(date, true)
   }
 }
diff --git a/services/gitea/gitea-last-commit.service.js b/services/gitea/gitea-last-commit.service.js
index 38c0eb44bf747..edf33a06645fe 100644
--- a/services/gitea/gitea-last-commit.service.js
+++ b/services/gitea/gitea-last-commit.service.js
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import Joi from 'joi'
-import { age as ageColor } from '../color-formatters.js'
+import { renderDateBadge } from '../date.js'
 import { pathParam, queryParam } from '../index.js'
-import { formatDate } from '../text-formatters.js'
 import { optionalUrl, relativeUri } from '../validators.js'
 import GiteaBase from './gitea-base.js'
 import { description, httpErrorsFor } from './gitea-helper.js'
@@ -114,13 +113,6 @@ export default class GiteaLastCommit extends GiteaBase {
 
   static defaultBadgeData = { label: 'last commit' }
 
-  static render({ commitDate }) {
-    return {
-      message: formatDate(commitDate),
-      color: ageColor(Date.parse(commitDate)),
-    }
-  }
-
   async fetch({ user, repo, branch, baseUrl, path }) {
     // https://gitea.com/api/swagger#/repository
     return super.fetch({
@@ -146,8 +138,6 @@ export default class GiteaLastCommit extends GiteaBase {
       baseUrl,
       path,
     })
-    return this.constructor.render({
-      commitDate: body[0].commit[displayTimestamp].date,
-    })
+    return renderDateBadge(body[0].commit[displayTimestamp].date)
   }
 }
diff --git a/services/github/gist/github-gist-last-commit.service.js b/services/github/gist/github-gist-last-commit.service.js
index 8b67181f74326..d090c9d3f2c36 100644
--- a/services/github/gist/github-gist-last-commit.service.js
+++ b/services/github/gist/github-gist-last-commit.service.js
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import Joi from 'joi'
 import { pathParams } from '../../index.js'
-import { formatDate } from '../../text-formatters.js'
-import { age as ageColor } from '../../color-formatters.js'
+import { renderDateBadge } from '../../date.js'
 import { GithubAuthV3Service } from '../github-auth-service.js'
 import { documentation, httpErrorsFor } from '../github-helpers.js'
 
@@ -27,13 +26,6 @@ export default class GistLastCommit extends GithubAuthV3Service {
 
   static defaultBadgeData = { label: 'last commit' }
 
-  static render({ commitDate }) {
-    return {
-      message: formatDate(commitDate),
-      color: ageColor(Date.parse(commitDate)),
-    }
-  }
-
   async fetch({ gistId }) {
     return this._requestJson({
       url: `/gists/${gistId}`,
@@ -44,6 +36,6 @@ export default class GistLastCommit extends GithubAuthV3Service {
 
   async handle({ gistId }) {
     const { updated_at: commitDate } = await this.fetch({ gistId })
-    return this.constructor.render({ commitDate })
+    return renderDateBadge(commitDate)
   }
 }
diff --git a/services/github/github-created-at.service.js b/services/github/github-created-at.service.js
index 2245bd0e010eb..0e4c654dbb2ce 100644
--- a/services/github/github-created-at.service.js
+++ b/services/github/github-created-at.service.js
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
-import dayjs from 'dayjs'
 import Joi from 'joi'
-import { age } from '../color-formatters.js'
+import { renderDateBadge } from '../date.js'
 import { pathParams } from '../index.js'
-import { formatDate } from '../text-formatters.js'
 import { GithubAuthV3Service } from './github-auth-service.js'
 import { documentation, httpErrorsFor } from './github-helpers.js'
 
@@ -34,14 +32,6 @@ export default class GithubCreatedAt extends GithubAuthV3Service {
 
   static defaultBadgeData = { label: 'created at' }
 
-  static render({ createdAt }) {
-    const date = dayjs(createdAt)
-    return {
-      message: formatDate(date),
-      color: age(date, true),
-    }
-  }
-
   async handle({ user, repo }) {
     const { created_at: createdAt } = await this._requestJson({
       schema,
@@ -49,6 +39,6 @@ export default class GithubCreatedAt extends GithubAuthV3Service {
       httpErrors: httpErrorsFor('repo not found'),
     })
 
-    return this.constructor.render({ createdAt })
+    return renderDateBadge(createdAt, true)
   }
 }
diff --git a/services/github/github-hacktoberfest.service.js b/services/github/github-hacktoberfest.service.js
index 6c9e6d343fc59..45a94f03b27ff 100644
--- a/services/github/github-hacktoberfest.service.js
+++ b/services/github/github-hacktoberfest.service.js
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import gql from 'graphql-tag'
 import Joi from 'joi'
 import dayjs from 'dayjs'
 import { pathParam, queryParam } from '../index.js'
+import { parseDate } from '../date.js'
 import { metric, maybePluralize } from '../text-formatters.js'
 import { nonNegativeInteger } from '../validators.js'
 import { GithubAuthV4Service } from './github-auth-service.js'
@@ -97,7 +98,7 @@ export default class GithubHacktoberfestCombinedStatus extends GithubAuthV4Servi
       // The global cutoff time is 11/1 noon UTC.
       // /~https://github.com/badges/shields/pull/4109#discussion_r330782093
       // We want to show "1 day left" on the last day so we add 1.
-      daysLeft = dayjs(`${year}-11-01 12:00:00 Z`).diff(dayjs(), 'days') + 1
+      daysLeft = parseDate(`${year}-11-01 12:00:00 Z`).diff(dayjs(), 'days') + 1
     }
     if (daysLeft < 0) {
       return {
@@ -181,7 +182,10 @@ export default class GithubHacktoberfestCombinedStatus extends GithubAuthV4Servi
   }
 
   static getCalendarPosition(year) {
-    const daysToStart = dayjs(`${year}-10-01 00:00:00 Z`).diff(dayjs(), 'days')
+    const daysToStart = parseDate(`${year}-10-01 00:00:00 Z`).diff(
+      dayjs(),
+      'days',
+    )
     const isBefore = daysToStart > 0
     return { daysToStart, isBefore }
   }
diff --git a/services/github/github-issue-detail.service.js b/services/github/github-issue-detail.service.js
index f6fb5039ef4b0..5d3f2b1692c4f 100644
--- a/services/github/github-issue-detail.service.js
+++ b/services/github/github-issue-detail.service.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import Joi from 'joi'
 import { nonNegativeInteger } from '../validators.js'
-import { formatDate, metric } from '../text-formatters.js'
-import { age } from '../color-formatters.js'
+import { metric } from '../text-formatters.js'
+import { renderDateBadge } from '../date.js'
 import { InvalidResponse, pathParams } from '../index.js'
 import { GithubAuthV3Service } from './github-auth-service.js'
 import {
@@ -133,11 +133,13 @@ const ageUpdateMap = {
   }).required(),
   transform: ({ json, property }) =>
     property === 'age' ? json.created_at : json.updated_at,
-  render: ({ property, value }) => ({
-    color: age(value),
-    label: property === 'age' ? 'created' : 'updated',
-    message: formatDate(value),
-  }),
+  render: ({ property, value }) => {
+    const label = property === 'age' ? 'created' : 'updated'
+    return {
+      ...renderDateBadge(value),
+      label,
+    }
+  },
 }
 
 const milestoneMap = {
diff --git a/services/github/github-issue-detail.spec.js b/services/github/github-issue-detail.spec.js
index 3db55856dd3f3..92103c412e754 100644
--- a/services/github/github-issue-detail.spec.js
+++ b/services/github/github-issue-detail.spec.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { expect } from 'chai'
 import { test, given } from 'sazerac'
-import { age } from '../color-formatters.js'
-import { formatDate, metric } from '../text-formatters.js'
+import { age, formatDate } from '../date.js'
+import { metric } from '../text-formatters.js'
 import { InvalidResponse } from '../index.js'
 import GithubIssueDetail from './github-issue-detail.service.js'
 import { issueStateColor, commentsColor } from './github-helpers.js'
diff --git a/services/github/github-last-commit.service.js b/services/github/github-last-commit.service.js
index fa989229c22b1..bc90ac914b741 100644
--- a/services/github/github-last-commit.service.js
+++ b/services/github/github-last-commit.service.js
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import Joi from 'joi'
-import { age as ageColor } from '../color-formatters.js'
+import { renderDateBadge } from '../date.js'
 import { NotFound, pathParam, queryParam } from '../index.js'
-import { formatDate } from '../text-formatters.js'
 import { relativeUri } from '../validators.js'
 import { GithubAuthV3Service } from './github-auth-service.js'
 import { documentation, httpErrorsFor } from './github-helpers.js'
@@ -88,13 +87,6 @@ export default class GithubLastCommit extends GithubAuthV3Service {
 
   static defaultBadgeData = { label: 'last commit' }
 
-  static render({ commitDate }) {
-    return {
-      message: formatDate(commitDate),
-      color: ageColor(Date.parse(commitDate)),
-    }
-  }
-
   async fetch({ user, repo, branch, path }) {
     return this._requestJson({
       url: `/repos/${user}/${repo}/commits`,
@@ -111,8 +103,6 @@ export default class GithubLastCommit extends GithubAuthV3Service {
 
     if (!commit) throw new NotFound({ prettyMessage: 'no commits found' })
 
-    return this.constructor.render({
-      commitDate: commit[displayTimestamp].date,
-    })
+    return renderDateBadge(commit[displayTimestamp].date)
   }
 }
diff --git a/services/github/github-release-date.service.js b/services/github/github-release-date.service.js
index 011b94d053c1e..633421c3e334b 100644
--- a/services/github/github-release-date.service.js
+++ b/services/github/github-release-date.service.js
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
-import dayjs from 'dayjs'
 import Joi from 'joi'
 import { pathParam, queryParam } from '../index.js'
-import { age } from '../color-formatters.js'
-import { formatDate } from '../text-formatters.js'
+import { renderDateBadge } from '../date.js'
 import { GithubAuthV3Service } from './github-auth-service.js'
 import { documentation, httpErrorsFor } from './github-helpers.js'
 
@@ -63,14 +61,6 @@ export default class GithubReleaseDate extends GithubAuthV3Service {
 
   static defaultBadgeData = { label: 'release date' }
 
-  static render({ date }) {
-    const releaseDate = dayjs(date)
-    return {
-      message: formatDate(releaseDate),
-      color: age(releaseDate),
-    }
-  }
-
   async fetch({ variant, user, repo }) {
     const url =
       variant === 'release-date'
@@ -86,10 +76,8 @@ export default class GithubReleaseDate extends GithubAuthV3Service {
   async handle({ variant, user, repo }, queryParams) {
     const body = await this.fetch({ variant, user, repo })
     if (Array.isArray(body)) {
-      return this.constructor.render({
-        date: body[0][queryParams.display_date],
-      })
+      return renderDateBadge(body[0][queryParams.display_date])
     }
-    return this.constructor.render({ date: body[queryParams.display_date] })
+    return renderDateBadge(body[queryParams.display_date])
   }
 }
diff --git a/services/gitlab/gitlab-last-commit.service.js b/services/gitlab/gitlab-last-commit.service.js
index b97c300bebbd5..3f44197bfd4e2 100644
--- a/services/gitlab/gitlab-last-commit.service.js
+++ b/services/gitlab/gitlab-last-commit.service.js
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import Joi from 'joi'
-import { age as ageColor } from '../color-formatters.js'
+import { renderDateBadge } from '../date.js'
 import { NotFound, pathParam, queryParam } from '../index.js'
-import { formatDate } from '../text-formatters.js'
 import { optionalUrl, relativeUri } from '../validators.js'
 import GitLabBase from './gitlab-base.js'
 import { description, httpErrorsFor } from './gitlab-helper.js'
@@ -66,13 +65,6 @@ export default class GitlabLastCommit extends GitLabBase {
 
   static defaultBadgeData = { label: 'last commit' }
 
-  static render({ commitDate }) {
-    return {
-      message: formatDate(commitDate),
-      color: ageColor(Date.parse(commitDate)),
-    }
-  }
-
   async fetch({ project, baseUrl, ref, path }) {
     // https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/api/commits.html#list-repository-commits
     return super.fetch({
@@ -94,6 +86,6 @@ export default class GitlabLastCommit extends GitLabBase {
 
     if (!commit) throw new NotFound({ prettyMessage: 'no commits found' })
 
-    return this.constructor.render({ commitDate: commit.committed_date })
+    return renderDateBadge(commit.committed_date)
   }
 }
diff --git a/services/maven-central/maven-central-last-update.service.js b/services/maven-central/maven-central-last-update.service.js
index 86f48d301dc02..6632de4fade96 100644
--- a/services/maven-central/maven-central-last-update.service.js
+++ b/services/maven-central/maven-central-last-update.service.js
@@ -1,12 +1,8 @@
 import Joi from 'joi'
-import customParseFormat from 'dayjs/plugin/customParseFormat.js'
-import dayjs from 'dayjs'
-import { InvalidResponse, pathParams } from '../index.js'
+import { pathParams } from '../index.js'
+import { parseDate, renderDateBadge } from '../date.js'
 import { nonNegativeInteger } from '../validators.js'
-import { formatDate } from '../text-formatters.js'
-import { age as ageColor } from '../color-formatters.js'
 import MavenCentralBase from './maven-central-base.js'
-dayjs.extend(customParseFormat)
 
 const updateResponseSchema = Joi.object({
   metadata: Joi.object({
@@ -38,13 +34,6 @@ export default class MavenCentralLastUpdate extends MavenCentralBase {
 
   static defaultBadgeData = { label: 'last updated' }
 
-  static render({ date }) {
-    return {
-      message: formatDate(date),
-      color: ageColor(date),
-    }
-  }
-
   async handle({ groupId, artifactId }) {
     const { metadata } = await this.fetch({
       groupId,
@@ -52,15 +41,11 @@ export default class MavenCentralLastUpdate extends MavenCentralBase {
       schema: updateResponseSchema,
     })
 
-    const date = dayjs(
+    const date = parseDate(
       String(metadata.versioning.lastUpdated),
       'YYYYMMDDHHmmss',
     )
 
-    if (!date.isValid) {
-      throw new InvalidResponse({ prettyMessage: 'invalid date' })
-    }
-
-    return this.constructor.render({ date })
+    return renderDateBadge(date)
   }
 }
diff --git a/services/npm/npm-last-update.service.js b/services/npm/npm-last-update.service.js
index 5f3ded018bea0..2d99105dee8ea 100644
--- a/services/npm/npm-last-update.service.js
+++ b/services/npm/npm-last-update.service.js
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 import Joi from 'joi'
-import dayjs from 'dayjs'
-import { InvalidResponse, NotFound, pathParam, queryParam } from '../index.js'
-import { formatDate } from '../text-formatters.js'
-import { age as ageColor } from '../color-formatters.js'
+import { NotFound, pathParam, queryParam } from '../index.js'
+import { renderDateBadge } from '../date.js'
 import NpmBase, {
   packageNameDescription,
   queryParamSchema,
@@ -21,26 +19,17 @@ const abbreviatedSchema = Joi.object({
   modified: Joi.string().required(),
 }).required()
 
-class NpmLastUpdateBase extends NpmBase {
+export class NpmLastUpdateWithTag extends NpmBase {
   static category = 'activity'
 
-  static defaultBadgeData = { label: 'last updated' }
-
-  static render({ date }) {
-    return {
-      message: formatDate(date),
-      color: ageColor(date),
-    }
-  }
-}
-
-export class NpmLastUpdateWithTag extends NpmLastUpdateBase {
   static route = {
     base: 'npm/last-update',
     pattern: ':scope(@[^/]+)?/:packageName/:tag',
     queryParamSchema,
   }
 
+  static defaultBadgeData = { label: 'last updated' }
+
   static openApi = {
     '/npm/last-update/{packageName}/{tag}': {
       get: {
@@ -81,19 +70,17 @@ export class NpmLastUpdateWithTag extends NpmLastUpdateBase {
       throw new NotFound({ prettyMessage: 'tag not found' })
     }
 
-    const date = dayjs(packageData.time[tagVersion])
-
-    if (!date.isValid) {
-      throw new InvalidResponse({ prettyMessage: 'invalid date' })
-    }
-
-    return this.constructor.render({ date })
+    return renderDateBadge(packageData.time[tagVersion])
   }
 }
 
-export class NpmLastUpdate extends NpmLastUpdateBase {
+export class NpmLastUpdate extends NpmBase {
+  static category = 'activity'
+
   static route = this.buildRoute('npm/last-update', { withTag: false })
 
+  static defaultBadgeData = { label: 'last updated' }
+
   static openApi = {
     '/npm/last-update/{packageName}': {
       get: {
@@ -127,12 +114,6 @@ export class NpmLastUpdate extends NpmLastUpdateBase {
       abbreviated: true,
     })
 
-    const date = dayjs(packageData.modified)
-
-    if (!date.isValid) {
-      throw new InvalidResponse({ prettyMessage: 'invalid date' })
-    }
-
-    return this.constructor.render({ date })
+    return renderDateBadge(packageData.modified)
   }
 }
diff --git a/services/open-vsx/open-vsx-release-date.service.js b/services/open-vsx/open-vsx-release-date.service.js
index 8d00bba7e573c..511c33de1aeb5 100644
--- a/services/open-vsx/open-vsx-release-date.service.js
+++ b/services/open-vsx/open-vsx-release-date.service.js
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import { pathParams } from '../index.js'
-import { age } from '../color-formatters.js'
-import { formatDate } from '../text-formatters.js'
+import { renderDateBadge } from '../date.js'
 import { OpenVSXBase, description } from './open-vsx-base.js'
 
 export default class OpenVSXReleaseDate extends OpenVSXBase {
@@ -32,17 +31,8 @@ export default class OpenVSXReleaseDate extends OpenVSXBase {
 
   static defaultBadgeData = { label: 'release date' }
 
-  static render({ releaseDate }) {
-    return {
-      message: formatDate(releaseDate),
-      color: age(releaseDate),
-    }
-  }
-
   async handle({ namespace, extension }) {
     const { timestamp } = await this.fetch({ namespace, extension })
-    return this.constructor.render({
-      releaseDate: timestamp,
-    })
+    return renderDateBadge(timestamp)
   }
 }
diff --git a/services/snapcraft/snapcraft-last-update.service.js b/services/snapcraft/snapcraft-last-update.service.js
index 379ef8ddef596..d57d21ac77c12 100644
--- a/services/snapcraft/snapcraft-last-update.service.js
+++ b/services/snapcraft/snapcraft-last-update.service.js
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 import Joi from 'joi'
-import dayjs from 'dayjs'
-import { pathParams, queryParam, NotFound, InvalidResponse } from '../index.js'
-import { formatDate } from '../text-formatters.js'
-import { age as ageColor } from '../color-formatters.js'
+import { pathParams, queryParam, NotFound } from '../index.js'
+import { renderDateBadge } from '../date.js'
 import SnapcraftBase, { snapcraftPackageParam } from './snapcraft-base.js'
 
 const queryParamSchema = Joi.object({
@@ -57,13 +55,6 @@ export default class SnapcraftLastUpdate extends SnapcraftBase {
     },
   }
 
-  static render({ lastUpdatedDate }) {
-    return {
-      message: formatDate(lastUpdatedDate),
-      color: ageColor(lastUpdatedDate),
-    }
-  }
-
   static transform(apiData, track, risk, arch) {
     const channelMap = apiData['channel-map']
     let filteredChannelMap = channelMap.filter(
@@ -99,12 +90,6 @@ export default class SnapcraftLastUpdate extends SnapcraftBase {
       arch,
     )
 
-    const lastUpdatedDate = dayjs(channel['released-at'])
-
-    if (!lastUpdatedDate.isValid) {
-      throw new InvalidResponse({ prettyMessage: 'invalid date' })
-    }
-
-    return this.constructor.render({ lastUpdatedDate })
+    return renderDateBadge(channel['released-at'])
   }
 }
diff --git a/services/sourceforge/sourceforge-last-commit.service.js b/services/sourceforge/sourceforge-last-commit.service.js
index b275b93ceaa08..91d25bfe6c33c 100644
--- a/services/sourceforge/sourceforge-last-commit.service.js
+++ b/services/sourceforge/sourceforge-last-commit.service.js
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import Joi from 'joi'
 import { BaseJsonService, pathParams } from '../index.js'
-import { formatDate } from '../text-formatters.js'
-import { age as ageColor } from '../color-formatters.js'
+import { renderDateBadge } from '../date.js'
 
 const schema = Joi.object({
   commits: Joi.array()
@@ -35,13 +34,6 @@ export default class SourceforgeLastCommit extends BaseJsonService {
 
   static defaultBadgeData = { label: 'last commit' }
 
-  static render({ commitDate }) {
-    return {
-      message: formatDate(new Date(commitDate)),
-      color: ageColor(new Date(commitDate)),
-    }
-  }
-
   async fetch({ project }) {
     return this._requestJson({
       url: `https://sourceforge.net/rest/p/${project}/git/commits`,
@@ -54,8 +46,6 @@ export default class SourceforgeLastCommit extends BaseJsonService {
 
   async handle({ project }) {
     const body = await this.fetch({ project })
-    return this.constructor.render({
-      commitDate: body.commits[0].committed_date,
-    })
+    return renderDateBadge(body.commits[0].committed_date)
   }
 }
diff --git a/services/steam/steam-workshop.service.js b/services/steam/steam-workshop.service.js
index e2301b8231357..cfbc02a97c031 100644
--- a/services/steam/steam-workshop.service.js
+++ b/services/steam/steam-workshop.service.js
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 import Joi from 'joi'
 import prettyBytes from 'pretty-bytes'
+import { renderDateBadge } from '../date.js'
 import { renderDownloadsBadge } from '../downloads.js'
-import { metric, formatDate } from '../text-formatters.js'
-import { age as ageColor } from '../color-formatters.js'
+import { metric } from '../text-formatters.js'
 import { NotFound, pathParams } from '../index.js'
 import BaseSteamAPI from './steam-base.js'
 
@@ -242,13 +242,9 @@ class SteamFileReleaseDate extends SteamFileService {
     label: 'release date',
   }
 
-  static render({ releaseDate }) {
-    return { message: formatDate(releaseDate), color: ageColor(releaseDate) }
-  }
-
   async onRequest({ response }) {
     const releaseDate = new Date(0).setUTCSeconds(response.time_created)
-    return this.constructor.render({ releaseDate })
+    return renderDateBadge(releaseDate)
   }
 }
 
@@ -277,13 +273,9 @@ class SteamFileUpdateDate extends SteamFileService {
     label: 'update date',
   }
 
-  static render({ updateDate }) {
-    return { message: formatDate(updateDate), color: ageColor(updateDate) }
-  }
-
   async onRequest({ response }) {
     const updateDate = new Date(0).setUTCSeconds(response.time_updated)
-    return this.constructor.render({ updateDate })
+    return renderDateBadge(updateDate)
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/services/text-formatters.js b/services/text-formatters.js
index 185170e023148..95521a3b29dde 100644
--- a/services/text-formatters.js
+++ b/services/text-formatters.js
@@ -5,12 +5,6 @@
  * @module
  */
 
-import dayjs from 'dayjs'
-import calendar from 'dayjs/plugin/calendar.js'
-import relativeTime from 'dayjs/plugin/relativeTime.js'
-dayjs.extend(calendar)
-dayjs.extend(relativeTime)
-
 /**
  * Creates a string of stars and empty stars based on the rating.
  * The number of stars is determined by the integer part of the rating.
@@ -165,39 +159,6 @@ function maybePluralize(singular, countable, plural) {
   }
 }
 
-/**
- * Returns a formatted date string without the year based on the value of input date param d.
- *
- * @param {Date | string | number | object } d - Input date in dayjs compatible format, date object, datestring, Unix timestamp etc.
- * @returns {string} Formatted date string
- */
-function formatDate(d) {
-  const date = dayjs(d)
-  const dateString = date.calendar(null, {
-    lastDay: '[yesterday]',
-    sameDay: '[today]',
-    lastWeek: '[last] dddd',
-    sameElse: 'MMMM YYYY',
-  })
-  // Trim current year from date string
-  return dateString.replace(` ${dayjs().year()}`, '').toLowerCase()
-}
-
-/**
- * Returns a relative date from the input timestamp.
- * For example, day after tomorrow's timestamp will return 'in 2 days'.
- *
- * @param {number | string} timestamp - Unix timestamp
- * @returns {string} Relative date from the unix timestamp
- */
-function formatRelativeDate(timestamp) {
-  const parsedDate = dayjs.unix(parseInt(timestamp, 10))
-  if (!parsedDate.isValid()) {
-    return 'invalid date'
-  }
-  return dayjs().to(parsedDate).toLowerCase()
-}
-
 export {
   starRating,
   currencyFromCode,
@@ -206,6 +167,4 @@ export {
   omitv,
   addv,
   maybePluralize,
-  formatDate,
-  formatRelativeDate,
 }
diff --git a/services/text-formatters.spec.js b/services/text-formatters.spec.js
index 8dedef13a32be..9bdbd843ecbef 100644
--- a/services/text-formatters.spec.js
+++ b/services/text-formatters.spec.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import { test, given } from 'sazerac'
-import sinon from 'sinon'
 import {
   starRating,
   currencyFromCode,
@@ -8,8 +7,6 @@ import {
   omitv,
   addv,
   maybePluralize,
-  formatDate,
-  formatRelativeDate,
 } from './text-formatters.js'
 
 describe('Text formatters', function () {
@@ -113,54 +110,4 @@ describe('Text formatters', function () {
     given('box', [123, 456], 'boxes').expect('boxes')
     given('box', undefined, 'boxes').expect('boxes')
   })
-
-  test(formatDate, () => {
-    given(1465513200000)
-      .describe('when given a timestamp in june 2016')
-      .expect('june 2016')
-  })
-
-  context('in october', function () {
-    let clock
-    beforeEach(function () {
-      clock = sinon.useFakeTimers(new Date(2017, 9, 15).getTime())
-    })
-    afterEach(function () {
-      clock.restore()
-    })
-
-    test(formatDate, () => {
-      given(new Date(2017, 0, 1).getTime())
-        .describe('when given the beginning of this year')
-        .expect('january')
-    })
-  })
-
-  context('in october', function () {
-    let clock
-    beforeEach(function () {
-      clock = sinon.useFakeTimers(new Date(2018, 9, 29).getTime())
-    })
-    afterEach(function () {
-      clock.restore()
-    })
-
-    test(formatRelativeDate, () => {
-      given(new Date(2018, 9, 31).getTime() / 1000)
-        .describe('when given the end of october')
-        .expect('in 2 days')
-    })
-
-    test(formatRelativeDate, () => {
-      given(new Date(2018, 9, 1).getTime() / 1000)
-        .describe('when given the beginning of october')
-        .expect('a month ago')
-    })
-
-    test(formatRelativeDate, () => {
-      given(9999999999999)
-        .describe('when given invalid date')
-        .expect('invalid date')
-    })
-  })
 })
diff --git a/services/vaadin-directory/vaadin-directory-release-date.service.js b/services/vaadin-directory/vaadin-directory-release-date.service.js
index 1756c6a9e10b1..6a435d19b25ba 100644
--- a/services/vaadin-directory/vaadin-directory-release-date.service.js
+++ b/services/vaadin-directory/vaadin-directory-release-date.service.js
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import { pathParams } from '../index.js'
-import { formatDate } from '../text-formatters.js'
-import { age as ageColor } from '../color-formatters.js'
+import { renderDateBadge } from '../date.js'
 import { BaseVaadinDirectoryService } from './vaadin-directory-base.js'
 
 export default class VaadinDirectoryReleaseDate extends BaseVaadinDirectoryService {
@@ -27,14 +26,8 @@ export default class VaadinDirectoryReleaseDate extends BaseVaadinDirectoryServi
     label: 'latest release date',
   }
 
-  static render({ date }) {
-    return { message: formatDate(date), color: ageColor(date) }
-  }
-
   async handle({ alias, packageName }) {
     const data = await this.fetch({ packageName })
-    return this.constructor.render({
-      date: data.latestAvailableRelease.publicationDate,
-    })
+    return renderDateBadge(data.latestAvailableRelease.publicationDate)
   }
 }
diff --git a/services/visual-studio-marketplace/visual-studio-marketplace-last-updated.service.js b/services/visual-studio-marketplace/visual-studio-marketplace-last-updated.service.js
index 137d5dcff1118..f205954ab458a 100644
--- a/services/visual-studio-marketplace/visual-studio-marketplace-last-updated.service.js
+++ b/services/visual-studio-marketplace/visual-studio-marketplace-last-updated.service.js
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import { pathParams } from '../index.js'
-import { age } from '../color-formatters.js'
-import { formatDate } from '../text-formatters.js'
+import { renderDateBadge } from '../date.js'
 import VisualStudioMarketplaceBase from './visual-studio-marketplace-base.js'
 
 export default class VisualStudioMarketplaceLastUpdated extends VisualStudioMarketplaceBase {
@@ -28,13 +27,6 @@ export default class VisualStudioMarketplaceLastUpdated extends VisualStudioMark
     label: 'last updated',
   }
 
-  static render({ lastUpdated }) {
-    return {
-      message: formatDate(lastUpdated),
-      color: age(lastUpdated),
-    }
-  }
-
   transform({ json }) {
     const { extension } = this.transformExtension({ json })
     const lastUpdated = extension.lastUpdated
@@ -44,6 +36,6 @@ export default class VisualStudioMarketplaceLastUpdated extends VisualStudioMark
   async handle({ extensionId }) {
     const json = await this.fetch({ extensionId })
     const { lastUpdated } = this.transform({ json })
-    return this.constructor.render({ lastUpdated })
+    return renderDateBadge(lastUpdated)
   }
 }
diff --git a/services/visual-studio-marketplace/visual-studio-marketplace-release-date.service.js b/services/visual-studio-marketplace/visual-studio-marketplace-release-date.service.js
index 1200b2e538610..010319715a9ee 100644
--- a/services/visual-studio-marketplace/visual-studio-marketplace-release-date.service.js
+++ b/services/visual-studio-marketplace/visual-studio-marketplace-release-date.service.js
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import { pathParams } from '../index.js'
-import { age } from '../color-formatters.js'
-import { formatDate } from '../text-formatters.js'
+import { renderDateBadge } from '../date.js'
 import VisualStudioMarketplaceBase from './visual-studio-marketplace-base.js'
 
 export default class VisualStudioMarketplaceReleaseDate extends VisualStudioMarketplaceBase {
@@ -28,13 +27,6 @@ export default class VisualStudioMarketplaceReleaseDate extends VisualStudioMark
     label: 'release date',
   }
 
-  static render({ releaseDate }) {
-    return {
-      message: formatDate(releaseDate),
-      color: age(releaseDate),
-    }
-  }
-
   transform({ json }) {
     const { extension } = this.transformExtension({ json })
     const releaseDate = extension.releaseDate
@@ -44,6 +36,6 @@ export default class VisualStudioMarketplaceReleaseDate extends VisualStudioMark
   async handle({ extensionId }) {
     const json = await this.fetch({ extensionId })
     const { releaseDate } = this.transform({ json })
-    return this.constructor.render({ releaseDate })
+    return renderDateBadge(releaseDate)
   }
 }
diff --git a/services/wordpress/wordpress-last-update.service.js b/services/wordpress/wordpress-last-update.service.js
index 793a778831187..9543a3b8d0069 100644
--- a/services/wordpress/wordpress-last-update.service.js
+++ b/services/wordpress/wordpress-last-update.service.js
@@ -1,16 +1,12 @@
-import dayjs from 'dayjs'
-import customParseFormat from 'dayjs/plugin/customParseFormat.js'
-import { InvalidResponse, pathParams } from '../index.js'
-import { formatDate } from '../text-formatters.js'
-import { age as ageColor } from '../color-formatters.js'
+import { pathParams } from '../index.js'
+import { parseDate, renderDateBadge } from '../date.js'
 import { description, BaseWordpress } from './wordpress-base.js'
-dayjs.extend(customParseFormat)
 
 const extensionData = {
   plugin: {
     capt: 'Plugin',
     exampleSlug: 'bbpress',
-    lastUpdateFormat: 'YYYY-MM-DD hh:mma [GMT]',
+    lastUpdateFormat: 'YYYY-MM-DD h:mma [GMT]',
   },
   theme: {
     capt: 'Theme',
@@ -50,35 +46,15 @@ function LastUpdateForType(extensionType) {
 
     static defaultBadgeData = { label: 'last updated' }
 
-    static render({ lastUpdated }) {
-      return {
-        label: 'last updated',
-        message: formatDate(lastUpdated),
-        color: ageColor(lastUpdated),
-      }
-    }
-
-    transform(lastUpdate) {
-      const date = dayjs(lastUpdate, lastUpdateFormat)
-
-      if (date.isValid()) {
-        return date.format('YYYY-MM-DD')
-      } else {
-        throw new InvalidResponse({ prettyMessage: 'invalid date' })
-      }
-    }
-
     async handle({ slug }) {
       const { last_updated: lastUpdated } = await this.fetch({
         extensionType,
         slug,
       })
 
-      const newDate = this.transform(lastUpdated)
+      const date = parseDate(lastUpdated, lastUpdateFormat)
 
-      return this.constructor.render({
-        lastUpdated: newDate,
-      })
+      return renderDateBadge(date)
     }
   }
 }