TIME function
Quick answer
TIME builds a time from hours, minutes and seconds, such as TIME(13,30,0) for 1:30 PM.
- Syntax
=TIME(hour, minute, second)- Most common use
=A2+TIME(0,B2,0)returns 10:35 AM (9:00 AM plus 95 minutes is 10:35 AM)
Use it to add a set number of hours or minutes to a time, or to compare times with a cutoff. Minutes or seconds over 59 carry into the next unit, and anything past 24 hours wraps around.
- Available in
- Every current version
- Category
- Date functions
- Returns
- A time as a fraction of a day (0.5 is noon); format the cell as a time.
- Google Sheets
- Works the same in Google Sheets.
Syntax
=TIME(hour, minute, second)
| Argument | Required? | What it is |
|---|---|---|
hour | Required | Hours, 0–23. Larger values wrap past midnight. |
minute | Required | Minutes. Values over 59 carry into hours. |
second | Required | Seconds. Values over 59 carry into minutes. |
Examples
Each result below is calculated from the sample sheet by our formula engine, the same one that grades the practice.
| Cell | Formula | Result | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| C2 | =A2+TIME(0,B2,0) | 10:35 AM | 9:00 AM plus 95 minutes is 10:35 AM |
| C3 | =TIME(17,30,0) | 5:30 PM | 5:30 PM from its parts |
| C4 | =A2<TIME(9,15,0) | TRUE | TRUE: the start is before the 9:15 cutoff |
Try it live
This is the sample sheet. Change any number or text, or edit a formula, and the results update.
Show the sample data as a table
| Start | Minutes | Result |
| 9:00 AM | 95 | 10:35 AM |
| 5:30 PM | ||
| TRUE |
Practice TIME
Graded instantly, then re-checked on changed data.
Finish times
B2 and takes the minutes in C2. In D2, calculate the finish time. Fill down to D6.Common mistakes
| What you see | Why, and how to fix it |
|---|---|
| #NUM! | The total is negative, such as TIME(0,-90,0). |
| A decimal instead of a time | Format the cell as a time, such as h:mm AM/PM. |
| Adding 25 hours gives 1:00 | TIME wraps at 24 hours. Add hours as a fraction of a day instead: =A2+25/24. |
Tips
- TIME(0,B2,0) turns a number of minutes into a time you can add to a clock time.
Questions
How do I add minutes to a time in Excel?
=A2+TIME(0,30,0) adds 30 minutes. For minutes in a cell, =A2+TIME(0,B2,0) or =A2+B2/1440.
Why does TIME(25,0,0) show 1:00 AM?
TIME keeps only the time of day, so anything past 24 hours wraps. For durations over a day, divide hours by 24 instead.
Updated Checked by running: every formula on this page was run by our formula engine on .