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TIME

The TIME function takes in three arguments: hour, minute, and second, and returns a time value. This function is commonly used in combination with other functions to perform time-related calculations.

Usage

Use the TIME formula with the syntax shown below, it has 3 required parameters:

=TIME(hour, minute, second)
Parameters:
  1. hour (required):
    The hour value of the time.
  2. minute (required):
    The minute value of the time.
  3. second (required):
    The second value of the time.

Examples

Here are a few example use cases that explain how to use the TIME formula in Google Sheets.

Convert time values to a specific format

The TIME function can be used to convert time values to a specific format, such as military time or 12-hour time.

Calculate time differences

The TIME function can be used in combination with other functions to calculate the difference between two times.

Calculate elapsed time

The TIME function can be used in combination with other functions to calculate the elapsed time between two times.

Common Mistakes

TIME not working? Here are some common mistakes people make when using the TIME Google Sheets Formula:

Incorrect argument order

The function requires the hour, minute, and second arguments to be in that order. Make sure the arguments are in the correct order to avoid errors.

Invalid argument type

The hour, minute, and second arguments must be numeric values. Make sure the arguments are valid numbers to avoid errors.

Incorrect time format

The TIME function returns a time value in the format of HH:MM:SS. If you are seeing a different format, make sure the cell is formatted as a time value.

Related Formulas

The following functions are similar to TIME or are often used with it in a formula:

  • NOW

    The NOW function in Google Sheets returns the current date and time, updated in real-time. This function is commonly used to create timestamps for data entry or to track changes made to a sheet.

  • TODAY

    The TODAY function returns the current date in the default timezone of the spreadsheet. The date is updated each time the spreadsheet is opened. This function is commonly used to calculate the current age or to track the number of days since a certain event, among other things.

  • DATE

    The DATE formula is used to create a date object in Google Sheets. It takes three arguments: year, month, and day and returns a date. This formula is useful when you need to perform date calculations or create date-based charts and graphs.

  • DATEDIF

    The DATEDIF function in Google Sheets calculates the difference between two dates using a specified unit of measurement. This function is commonly used to calculate the length of time between two dates, such as the number of days, months, or years. The function is particularly useful when working with financial or project planning data.

Learn More

You can learn more about the TIME Google Sheets function on Google Support.