# TIME function in Excel

> TIME builds a time from hours, minutes and seconds, such as TIME(13,30,0) for 1:30 PM.

Source: https://spreadsheetpractice.com/functions/time · Updated October 28, 2026 · Formulas and results on this page were run by the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine on October 30, 2026

## Quick answer

- **What it does:** 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)
- **Available in:** Every current version
- **Category:** [Date functions](https://spreadsheetpractice.com/functions/category/date)
- **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.

## What it does

TIME builds a time from hours, minutes and seconds, such as TIME(13,30,0) for 1:30 PM. 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.

## 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 was calculated by running the formula on the sample sheet.

| 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 |

### The sample sheet

Every formula above runs on this data:

|  | A | B | C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Start | Minutes | Result |
| 2 | 9:00 AM | 95 | 10:35 AM |
| 3 |  |  | 5:30 PM |
| 4 |  |  | TRUE |

## 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.

## Related functions

- [HOUR](https://spreadsheetpractice.com/functions/hour): HOUR returns the hour of a time as a number from 0 to 23, so 1:45 PM gives 13.
- [TIMEVALUE](https://spreadsheetpractice.com/functions/timevalue): TIMEVALUE converts a time written as text, such as "1:30 PM" or "13:30", into a real time you can add, subtract and format.
- [NOW](https://spreadsheetpractice.com/functions/now): NOW returns the current date and time, and updates whenever the workbook recalculates.

## 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.

## Practice

A graded TIME exercise ("Finish times") is on [the TIME page](https://spreadsheetpractice.com/functions/time). It is checked instantly, then re-checked on changed data.

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