Excel stores TIME values in decimal numbers, but in day unit. The first way to convert a time value to hours, minutes or seconds number is to use the multiplication formula.
The second way is using the excel CONVERT function, an excel function to convert from and to various units of measurement.
The third way to use the excel HOUR function, excel MINUTE function and excel SECOND function, but still involves mathematical formulas (multiplication or division).
For a more detailed explanation of how excel stores TIME, please read “How Excel Stores Date and Time“
For example, there is a TIME value in column A as shown below. How the conversion results to hours, minutes and seconds.
Convert Time to Hours in Excel
Formula #1, using multiplication formula
How to convert time to hours in excel? One day is 24 hours, to get the hour number from a TIME value is to multiply it by the number 24.
The Formula
=A3*24
The Result
Formula #2, using CONVERT function
Fill the number argument with cell A3
Fill the from_unit argument with “day”
Fill the to_unit argument with “hr”
The Formula
=CONVERT(A3,"day","hr")
The Result
The results are the same as the first way.
For a more detailed explanation about Excel CONVERT function, please read “How to Use the Excel CONVERT Function“
Formula #3, using HOUR, MINUTE and SECOND function
To get the HOUR number from the time value, why not just use the HOUR function? Why do the MINUTE function and SECOND function also apply?
The TIME value consists of hour, minute and second value. To get the hour value from the minute value divided by 60 (number of minutes in one hour) and to get an hour value from the second value divided by 3600 (number of seconds in one hour).
The Formula
=HOUR(A3)+(MINUTE(A3)/60)+(SECOND(A3)/3600)
The Result
The results remain the same as the previous two ways.
Convert Time to Minutes in Excel
Formula #1, using multiplication formula
How to convert time to minutes in excel? There are 1,440 minutes in a day, to get the minute number from a TIME value is to multiply it by the number 1440.
The Formula
=A3*1440
The Result
Formula #2, using CONVERT function
Fill the number argument with cell A3
Fill the from_unit argument with “day”
Fill the to_unit argument with “mn”
The Formula
=CONVERT(A3,"day","mn")
The Result
Formula #3, using HOUR, MINUTE and SECOND function
To get the minute number from the hour value multiplied by 60 (number of minutes in one hour) and to get the minute number from the second value divided by 60 (number of seconds in one minute).
The Formula
=(HOUR(A3)*60)+MINUTE(A3)+(SECOND(A3)/60)
The Result
Convert Time to Seconds in Excel
Formula #1, using multiplication formula
How to convert time to seconds in excel? to get the second number from a TIME value is to multiply it by the number 86400 (number of seconds in one day, 24 hours x 60 minutes x 60 seconds).
The Formula
=A3*86400
The Result
Formula #2, using CONVERT function
Fill the number argument with cell A3
Fill the from_unit argument with “day”
Fill the to_unit argument with “sec”
The Formula
=CONVERT(A3,"day","sec")
The Result
Formula #3, using HOUR, MINUTE and SECOND function
To get the second number from the hour value multiplied by 3600 (number of seconds in one hour) and to get the second number from the minute value multiplied by 60 (number of seconds in one minute).
The Formula
=(HOUR(A3)*3600)+(MINUTE(A3)*60)+SECOND(A3)
The Result
Which One the Best Solution?
All depends on you, which solution is the most convenient for you. For me formula #1, the multiplication formula is the simplest. Formula #2 uses one excel function, and the most complex is formula #3 using three excel functions plus multiplication and division formulas.
The choice is yours.
