MS Excel: TIME function to create time values from hour, minute and second

The TIME function in Excel is used to combine hours, minutes, and seconds into a single valid Excel time. This is especially helpful when you're working with separate components of time and need to assemble them into a time value that Excel can understand and format correctly.

Use it for building timestamps, time calculations, and automation of time-based entries in dashboards, logs, schedules, and more.

Syntax

=TIME(hour, minute, second)

Parameters:

Argument	Description
hour	Number from 0 to 23. Values >23 will roll over to next day.
minute	Number from 0 to 59. Values >59 will increment the hour.
second	Number from 0 to 59. Values >59 will increment the minute.

Excel stores time as a fraction of a 24-hour day. For example, 0.25 = 6:00 AM.

Examples

Example 1: Simple Time Construction

=TIME(9, 30, 0)

Result: 09:30 AM

Creates a valid Excel time for 9:30 in the morning.

Example 2: Values Above Normal Ranges

=TIME(25, 75, 120)

Result: 04:17 AM (on the next day)

Explanation:

• 25 hours → 1 day + 1 hour

• 75 minutes → 1 hour + 15 minutes

• 120 seconds → 2 minutes → Total: 1 day + 1h + 1h + 15m + 2m = 04:17

Example 3: Build Time from Cell Values

Assume the following:

A	B	C
Hour	Minute	Second
14	20	45

=TIME(A2, B2, C2)

Result: 2:20:45 PM

Sample Table

Hour	Minute	Second	Formula	Result
10	15	0	=TIME(10,15,0)	10:15 AM
23	59	59	=TIME(23,59,59)	11:59:59 PM
25	0	0	=TIME(25,0,0)	1:00 AM

Use Cases

• Combine split time fields (hour, minute, second) into a single time value.

• Generate timestamps in dashboards and reports.

• Calculate future/past time intervals by combining with NOW() or TODAY().

• Use with + and - for custom time arithmetic.

Related Functions

Function	Purpose
NOW()	Returns current date and time
TODAY()	Returns current date
HOUR()	Extracts hour from time
MINUTE()	Extracts minute from time
SECOND()	Extracts second from time
TIMEVALUE()	Converts text to time

Summary Table

Feature	Description
Function Name	TIME
Purpose	Converts separate hour, minute, and second into a time value
Argument Type	Numbers (can exceed typical ranges)
Return Type	Decimal number (formatted as time)
Volatile	❌ No
Introduced In	Excel 2007 and later

Conclusion

The TIME function is essential when dealing with time components separately in Excel. Whether you're calculating shifts, event durations, or simply building dynamic time values, it ensures you get a consistent and correctly formatted time every time.