Excel: Convert time to decimal - how it works

If you want to add up working hours or other time values, it is often easier if you convert the time to decimal format beforehand. Learn here how to convert clock times to decimal values in Microsoft Excel and what to keep in mind.

How to convert clock times to decimal format

To convert hours or time data in Excel to decimal format, you need to calculate the time value times 24. In order for the result to be displayed correctly, you must also format the cell in which you perform the calculation to display numbers.Follow these steps to convert time values to decimal format:

1. Start Excel and open a workbook in which you want to convert the time values.
2. Click in an empty cell and enter the formula "=cell*24". For "Cell", specify the cell where the time value is located.
3. Then right-click the cell where you want to perform the calculation and select the "Format Cells..." option.
4. Click the "Numbers" tab and select the "Numbers" category.
5. Confirm the change by clicking "OK".

Excel will now show you the time as a correct decimal number.

Formatting time using the TEXT function

If you want to convert times into the 12-hour format, for example, this works using the TEXT function. The syntax of the function looks like this: "=TEXT(range; "H:MM AM/PM")". Instead of the "range" argument, enter the cell that contains the time you want to convert.