MS Excel: MINUTE function for extracting minute portion from value
- Fakhriddinbek
- May 4
- 2 min read
Time values are essential in scheduling, data logging, and performance tracking. Microsoft Excel’s MINUTE function allows users to extract the minute portion from a given time value. Whether you’re analyzing call durations, meeting times, or timestamps in system logs, this function helps streamline and structure your time-based data.
Syntax
=MINUTE(serial_number)
Argument:
Parameter | Description |
serial_number | A valid Excel time or a reference to a cell containing a time |
Excel stores time as a fraction of a day, where 1 = 24 hours, 0.5 = 12 hours, etc.
The MINUTE function returns an integer between 0 and 59.
Examples
Cell A1 (Time) | Formula | Result | Explanation |
12:45 PM | =MINUTE(A1) | 45 | Extracts the 45 minutes |
07:00 | =MINUTE("07:00") | 0 | Exact hour, no minutes |
18:29:59 | =MINUTE(A1) | 29 | Returns the minute part only |
0.78125 | =MINUTE(0.78125) | 45 | 0.78125 = 6:45 PM |
Practical Use Cases
Scenario | Application Example |
Shift reporting | Extract minute details from check-in times |
Call center analytics | Analyze duration patterns in logs |
KPI reports | Group or filter data based on exact minutes |
Data validation | Ensure minute values are within expected limits |
Related Functions
Function | Purpose |
HOUR | Returns the hour from a time value |
SECOND | Returns the seconds from a time value |
TIME | Combines hour, minute, second into a time |
NOW | Returns current system date and time |
TEXT | Formats a time or date as a custom string |
Best Practices
When using MINUTE, ensure your source data is recognized as a valid time.
To extract minute values from date-time stamps (e.g., 2025-05-02 14:37:10), Excel will still return 37 with =MINUTE(cell).
You can build a dynamic message using the result:
="The event starts at minute " & MINUTE(A1)
Summary Table
Feature | Description |
Function Name | MINUTE |
Purpose | Extracts the minute from a time value |
Return Type | Integer (0 to 59) |
Input | Serial time or time-formatted cell |
Available In | All Excel versions |
Conclusion
The MINUTE function is a powerful, precise tool that makes time-based data in Excel more actionable. Whether you’re slicing timestamps for analysis or formatting schedules for dashboards, knowing how to extract minute values cleanly will improve the accuracy and usability of your data.
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