diff --git a/lib/administrate/field/date.rb b/lib/administrate/field/date.rb
index 5041ba118f..869be7a653 100644
--- a/lib/administrate/field/date.rb
+++ b/lib/administrate/field/date.rb
@@ -6,14 +6,23 @@ class Date < Base
       def date
         I18n.localize(
           data.in_time_zone(timezone).to_date,
-          format: format
+          format: format,
+          default: fallback_format
         )
       end
 
       private
 
       def format
-        options.fetch(:format, :default)
+        options.fetch(:format, default_format)
+      end
+
+      def default_format
+        :administrate_date_default
+      end
+
+      def fallback_format
+        I18n.t("date.formats.default", default: "%Y-%m-%d")
       end
 
       def timezone
diff --git a/lib/administrate/field/date_time.rb b/lib/administrate/field/date_time.rb
index 28f4c74457..9236d39c60 100644
--- a/lib/administrate/field/date_time.rb
+++ b/lib/administrate/field/date_time.rb
@@ -6,21 +6,35 @@ class DateTime < Base
       def date
         I18n.localize(
           data.in_time_zone(timezone).to_date,
-          format: format
+          format: format(type: :date),
+          default: fallback_format(type: :date)
         )
       end
 
       def datetime
         I18n.localize(
           data.in_time_zone(timezone),
-          format: format
+          format: format(type: :datetime),
+          default: fallback_format(type: :datetime)
         )
       end
 
       private
 
-      def format
-        options.fetch(:format, :default)
+      def format(type: :date)
+        options.fetch(:format, default_format(type: type))
+      end
+
+      def default_format(type: :date)
+        :"administrate_#{type}_default"
+      end
+
+      def fallback_format(type: :date)
+        if type == :date
+          I18n.t("date.formats.default", default: "%Y-%m-%d")
+        else
+          I18n.t("time.formats.default", default: "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M")
+        end
       end
 
       def timezone
diff --git a/lib/administrate/field/time.rb b/lib/administrate/field/time.rb
index ff461df09e..d95fc4ca64 100644
--- a/lib/administrate/field/time.rb
+++ b/lib/administrate/field/time.rb
@@ -6,14 +6,23 @@ class Time < Base
       def time
         I18n.localize(
           data,
-          format: format
+          format: format,
+          default: fallback_format
         )
       end
 
       private
 
       def format
-        options.fetch(:format, "%I:%M%p")
+        options.fetch(:format, default_format)
+      end
+
+      def default_format
+        :administrate_time_default
+      end
+
+      def fallback_format
+        "%I:%M%p"
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/spec/example_app/config/locales/en.yml b/spec/example_app/config/locales/en.yml
index 30c016e11a..e0fc9c2874 100644
--- a/spec/example_app/config/locales/en.yml
+++ b/spec/example_app/config/locales/en.yml
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ en:
         "%m/%d/%Y"
       with_weekday:
         "%a %m/%d/%y"
+      administrate_date_default:
+        "%m/%d/%Y"
 
   helpers:
     label:
@@ -20,6 +22,10 @@ en:
         "%b %-d, %Y"
       short:
         "%B %d"
+      administrate_datetime_default:
+        "%a, %b %-d, %Y at %r"
+      administrate_time_default:
+        "%I:%M%p"
 
   titles:
     application: Administrate-prototype
diff --git a/spec/lib/fields/date_spec.rb b/spec/lib/fields/date_spec.rb
index e4605365ba..ae8655427f 100644
--- a/spec/lib/fields/date_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/fields/date_spec.rb
@@ -6,12 +6,39 @@
   let(:formats) do
     {
       date: {
-        formats: {default: "%m/%d/%Y", short: "%b %d"},
+        formats: {
+          default: "%m/%d/%Y",
+          short: "%b %d",
+          administrate_date_default: "%m/%d, %Y"
+        },
         abbr_month_names: Array.new(13) { |i| "Dec" if i == 12 },
         abbr_day_names: Array.new(7) { |i| "Fri" if i == 5 }
       },
       time: {
-        formats: {default: "%a, %b %-d, %Y", short: "%d %b"}
+        formats: {
+          default: "%a, %b %-d, %Y at %r",
+          short: "%d %b %H:%M",
+          administrate_datetime_default: "%a, %b %-d, %Y, %r",
+          administrate_time_default: "%I:%M%p"
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  end
+  let(:formats_without_administrate_default) do
+    {
+      date: {
+        formats: {
+          default: "%m/%d/%Y",
+          short: "%b %d"
+        },
+        abbr_month_names: Array.new(13) { |i| "Dec" if i == 12 },
+        abbr_day_names: Array.new(7) { |i| "Fri" if i == 5 }
+      },
+      time: {
+        formats: {
+          default: "%a, %b %-d, %Y at %r",
+          short: "%d %b %H:%M"
+        }
       }
     }
   end
@@ -21,11 +48,11 @@
       with_translations(:en, formats) do
         field = Administrate::Field::Date
           .new(:start_date, start_date, :show)
-        expect(field.date).to eq("12/25/2015")
+        expect(field.date).to eq("12/25, 2015")
       end
     end
 
-    context "with `prefix` option" do
+    context "with `format` option" do
       it "displays the date in the requested format" do
         options_field = Administrate::Field::Date
           .with_options(format: :short)
@@ -46,5 +73,34 @@
         end
       end
     end
+
+    context "without `format` option" do
+      it "falls back to default format if administrate_date_default is missing" do
+        options_field = Administrate::Field::Date
+        field = options_field.new(:start_date, start_date, :show)
+
+        with_translations(:en, formats_without_administrate_default) do
+          expect(field.date).to eq("12/25/2015")
+        end
+      end
+
+      it "falls back to static format (%Y-%m-%d) if locale formats are missing" do
+        options_field = Administrate::Field::Date
+        field = options_field.new(:start_date, start_date, :show)
+
+        with_translations(:unformatted_locale, {}) do
+          available_locales = I18n.available_locales
+          locale = I18n.locale
+          begin
+            I18n.available_locales = [:unformatted_locale]
+            I18n.locale = :unformatted_locale
+            expect(field.date).to eq("2015-12-25")
+          ensure
+            I18n.available_locales = available_locales
+            I18n.locale = locale
+          end
+        end
+      end
+    end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/lib/fields/date_time_spec.rb b/spec/lib/fields/date_time_spec.rb
index 912732fe05..cac1ebfc86 100644
--- a/spec/lib/fields/date_time_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/fields/date_time_spec.rb
@@ -6,26 +6,78 @@
   let(:formats) do
     {
       date: {
-        formats: {default: "%m/%d/%Y", short: "%b %d"},
+        formats: {
+          default: "%m/%d/%Y",
+          short: "%b %d",
+          administrate_date_default: "%m/%d, %Y"
+        },
         abbr_month_names: Array.new(13) { |i| "Dec" if i == 12 },
         abbr_day_names: Array.new(7) { |i| "Fri" if i == 5 }
       },
       time: {
-        formats: {default: "%a, %b %-d, %Y at %r", short: "%d %b %H:%M"}
+        formats: {
+          default: "%a, %b %-d, %Y at %r",
+          short: "%d %b %H:%M",
+          administrate_datetime_default: "%a, %b %-d, %Y, %r",
+          administrate_time_default: "%I:%M%p"
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  end
+  let(:formats_without_administrate_default) do
+    {
+      date: {
+        formats: {
+          default: "%m/%d/%Y",
+          short: "%b %d"
+        },
+        abbr_month_names: Array.new(13) { |i| "Dec" if i == 12 },
+        abbr_day_names: Array.new(7) { |i| "Fri" if i == 5 }
+      },
+      time: {
+        formats: {
+          default: "%a, %b %-d, %Y at %r",
+          short: "%d %b %H:%M"
+        }
       }
     }
   end
 
   describe "#date" do
-    it "displays the date" do
-      with_translations(:en, formats) do
-        field = Administrate::Field::DateTime
-          .new(:start_date, start_date, :show)
-        expect(field.date).to eq("12/25/2015")
+    context "without `format` option" do
+      it "displays the date in the administrate default format" do
+        field = Administrate::Field::DateTime.new(:start_date, start_date, :show)
+        with_translations(:en, formats) do
+          expect(field.date).to eq("12/25, 2015")
+        end
+      end
+
+      it "falls back to default format if administrate_date_default is missing" do
+        field = Administrate::Field::DateTime.new(:start_date, start_date, :show)
+        with_translations(:en, formats_without_administrate_default) do
+          expect(field.date).to eq("12/25/2015")
+        end
+      end
+
+      it "falls back to static format (%Y-%m-%d) if locale formats are missing" do
+        field = Administrate::Field::DateTime.new(:start_date, start_date, :show)
+
+        with_translations(:unformatted_locale, {}) do
+          available_locales = I18n.available_locales
+          locale = I18n.locale
+          begin
+            I18n.available_locales = [:unformatted_locale]
+            I18n.locale = :unformatted_locale
+            expect(field.date).to eq("2015-12-25")
+          ensure
+            I18n.available_locales = available_locales
+            I18n.locale = locale
+          end
+        end
       end
     end
 
-    context "with `prefix` option" do
+    context "with `format` option" do
       it "displays the date in the requested format" do
         options_field = Administrate::Field::DateTime
           .with_options(format: :short)
@@ -90,15 +142,40 @@
   end
 
   describe "#datetime" do
-    it "displays the datetime" do
-      field = Administrate::Field::DateTime.new(:start_date, start_date, :show)
+    context "without `format` option" do
+      it "displays the datetime in the administrate default format" do
+        field = Administrate::Field::DateTime.new(:start_date, start_date, :show)
+        with_translations(:en, formats) do
+          expect(field.datetime).to eq("Fri, Dec 25, 2015, 10:15:45 AM")
+        end
+      end
+
+      it "falls back to default format if administrate_datetime_default is missing" do
+        field = Administrate::Field::DateTime.new(:start_date, start_date, :show)
+        with_translations(:en, formats_without_administrate_default) do
+          expect(field.datetime).to eq("Fri, Dec 25, 2015 at 10:15:45 AM")
+        end
+      end
 
-      with_translations(:en, formats) do
-        expect(field.datetime).to eq("Fri, Dec 25, 2015 at 10:15:45 AM")
+      it "falls back to static format (%Y-%m-%d %H:%M) if locale formats are missing" do
+        field = Administrate::Field::DateTime.new(:start_date, start_date, :show)
+
+        with_translations(:unformatted_locale, {}) do
+          available_locales = I18n.available_locales
+          locale = I18n.locale
+          begin
+            I18n.available_locales = [:unformatted_locale]
+            I18n.locale = :unformatted_locale
+            expect(field.datetime).to eq("2015-12-25 10:15")
+          ensure
+            I18n.available_locales = available_locales
+            I18n.locale = locale
+          end
+        end
       end
     end
 
-    context "with `prefix` option" do
+    context "with `format` option" do
       it "displays the datetime in the requested format" do
         options_field = Administrate::Field::DateTime
           .with_options(format: :short)
diff --git a/spec/lib/fields/time_spec.rb b/spec/lib/fields/time_spec.rb
index 42d1471c2a..141c55b45f 100644
--- a/spec/lib/fields/time_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/fields/time_spec.rb
@@ -40,22 +40,23 @@
 
       expect(field.time).to eq("04:38PM")
     end
-  end
 
-  it "formats the time with localized AM/PM markers" do
-    time = DateTime.new(2021, 3, 26, 16, 38)
-    formats = {
-      time: {
-        am: "午前",
-        pm: "午後"
+    it "formats the time with localized AM/PM markers" do
+      time = DateTime.new(2021, 3, 26, 16, 38)
+      formats = {
+        time: {
+          am: "午前",
+          pm: "午後",
+          formats: {administrate_time_default: "%p%I:%M"}
+        }
       }
-    }
 
-    field = Administrate::Field::Time.new(:time, time, :index)
+      field = Administrate::Field::Time.new(:time, time, :index)
 
-    I18n.with_locale(:ja) do
-      with_translations(:ja, formats) do
-        expect(field.time).to eq("04:38午後")
+      I18n.with_locale(:ja) do
+        with_translations(:ja, formats) do
+          expect(field.time).to eq("午後04:38")
+        end
       end
     end
   end
@@ -63,7 +64,9 @@
   it "returns a missing translation message if the translation is not available" do
     time = DateTime.new(2021, 3, 26, 16, 38)
     field = Administrate::Field::Time.new(:time, time, :index)
-    formats = {}
+    formats = {
+      time: {formats: {administrate_time_default: "%I:%M%p"}}
+    }
 
     I18n.with_locale(:ja) do
       with_translations(:ja, formats) do