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Returns the decimal number for a particular time. If the cell format was General before the function was entered, the result is formatted as a date.

The decimal number returned by TIME is a value ranging from 0 (zero) to 0.99999999, representing the times from 0:00:00 (12:00:00 AM) to 23:59:59 (11:59:59 P.M.).

Syntax

TIME(hour,minute,second)

Hour   is a number from 0 (zero) to 32767 representing the hour. Any value greater than 23 will be divided by 24 and the remainder will be treated as the hour value. For example, TIME(27,0,0) = TIME(3,0,0) = .125 or 3:00 AM.

Minute   is a number from 0 to 32767 representing the minute. Any value greater than 59 will be converted to hours and minutes. For example, TIME(0,750,0) = TIME(12,30,0) = .520833 or 12:30 PM.

Second   is a number from 0 to 32767 representing the second. Any value greater than 59 will be converted to hours, minutes, and seconds. For example, TIME(0,0,2000) = TIME(0,33,22) = .023148 or 12:33:20 AM

Remark

Microsoft Excel for Windows and Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh use different date systems as their default. Time values are a portion of a date value and represented by a decimal number (for example, 12:00 PM is represented as 0.5 because it is half of a day).

Example

The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank worksheet.

Note  To view the time as a decimal number, select the cell and click Cells on the Format menu. Click the Number tab, and then click General or Number in the Category box.