We can use the Excel TIME function to create time using its individual components like hour, minutes and seconds values to return with a decimal number representing the specific time. The steps below will walk us through the process of using this in-built function.
Figure 1- Result of using the Excel TIME function
General Formula
=TIME(hour,min,sec)
Formula
=TIME(A4,B4,C4)
Setting up the Data
- We will create out a possible list of data as displayed in the figure below.
- Column A will contain a list of Hours
- Our list of Minutes will be displayed in Column B
- Column C will contain a list of Seconds
- We will insert our formula in Column D to arrive at the decimal result.
Figure 2 – Setting up the Data
Applying the Excel TIME function
- We will click on Cell D4
- We will insert the formula below into Cell D4
=TIME(A4,B4,C4)
- We press the enter key
Figure 3 – Applying the Excel TIME function
- Using the fill handle tool (a plus sign located at the base of Cell D4), we will drag down the formula into the other Cells.
Figure 4 – Result of using the Excel TIME function
Explanation
We use the TIME function to create a serial number format (decimal value) from its hours, minutes and seconds component. However, you must always use a valid component, because a valid component will always return with a valid time which can be formatted in your own way.
Also, we can combine the TIME function with many other functions to perform different operations such as:
- Add decimal hours or decimal minutes to time through the use of the TIME function by adding the minutes or hours divided by 24 times
- Use the TIME function together with the SUMPRODUCT function to achieve the sum of the total amount of time over 30 minutes.
- Count the number of time in a given array by combining the TIME function and the COUNTIFs function.
Note
- Negative values are OK
- When minutes or seconds are over 60, they will be rolled over to the hour or minute respectively.
- When there are no components of some cells in a particular row, then zero will be inserted in the empty cells to prevent an error result.
- The returned time will be in decimal form. Right-click and click on format cells. Click on time and select the time format.
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