How to round time to the nearest 15 minutes in Excel
Formula (Excel and Google Sheets)
=MROUND(B2,"0:15")Use MROUND with a 15-minute step: =MROUND(B2,"0:15").
- Result on the example
- one result per row in
C2, filled down toC7 - Works in
- Every current version
- Google Sheets
- Same formula
See it work
The formula is already in C2, filled down to C7. Change any input and the result updates, or edit the formula to experiment.
How it works
MROUND rounds to the nearest multiple of its second argument, and the text "0:15" is read as 15 minutes. 8:07 is closer to 8:00 and 8:08 is closer to 8:15.
=MROUND(B2,"0:15")Result0.3333333333
B28:07 AMThe value in B2.
MROUND(B2,"0:15")0.3333333333MROUND: Rounds to the nearest multiple.- number
B28:07 AM - multiple
"0:15"
- number
In Google Sheets
The same formula works in Google Sheets: =MROUND(B2,"0:15"). We ran it in Google Sheets mode on the same data and it returns the same results.
Other ways to do it
Each one was run on the same example sheet.
| Formula | Result | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| =ROUND(B2*96,0)/96 | 8:00 AM, 8:15 AM, 9:00 AM… | A day has 96 quarter hours, so this rounds to the nearest one without MROUND. |
| =FLOOR(B2,"0:15") | 8:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 8:45 AM…Different result | Always rounds down. Rounds down. |
| =CEILING(B2,"0:15") | 8:15 AM, 8:15 AM, 9:00 AM…Different result | Always rounds up. Rounds up. |
Common mistakes
- Times are binary fractions, so a time exactly halfway, like 8:07:30, can round either way. Decide which way ties go if it matters.
- Rules on rounding time punches vary. In the US, rounding must not favor the employer over time.
Try it yourself
Same data, empty answer cell. Your formula is graded instantly, then re-checked on changed data, so a typed-in number won't pass.
Round time to the nearest 15 minutes
C2, round the clock-in time to the nearest 15 minutes, and fill down to C7.Questions
How do I round to the nearest hour?
=MROUND(B2,"1:00").
How do I round up to 6 minutes for billing?
=CEILING(B2,"0:06").
Checked by running on 2026-10-30: every formula and result on this page was calculated by the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine, in both Excel and Google Sheets modes.