Syntax
TIME(hour, minute, second)
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| hour | Parameter of the TIME function. |
| minute | Parameter of the TIME function. |
| second | Parameter of the TIME function. |
Examples
Create a time
Formula
=TIME(14, 30, 0)
Returns 2:30 PM as a time serial number (0.604166...). Displayed as 2:30 PM with time formatting.
Add hours to a time
Formula
=A1 + TIME(2, 0, 0)
Adds exactly 2 hours to the time in A1. If A1 is 9:00 AM, returns 11:00 AM.
Calculate shift end
Formula
=TIME(HOUR(A1)+8, MINUTE(A1), 0)
Adds an 8-hour shift to the start time in A1. If A1 is 7:00 AM, returns 3:00 PM.
Common Errors
#NUM!
Occurs when the resulting time is negative. Hours, minutes, and seconds can exceed their normal range (e.g., TIME(0, 90, 0) = 1:30 AM) but negative results error.
#VALUE!
Occurs when arguments are non-numeric text.
Tips
Values wrap around 24 hours
TIME(25, 0, 0) returns 1:00 AM (wraps past midnight). For durations exceeding 24 hours, use direct arithmetic instead (hours/24).
Overflow is allowed
TIME(0, 90, 0) returns 1:30 AM — 90 minutes overflows into hours. Same for seconds overflowing into minutes. This is useful for adding time components.
Time is a fraction of a day
Internally, 12:00 PM = 0.5 (half a day), 6:00 AM = 0.25. When adding time to a date, you're adding fractions of a day.
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