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How to Convert Time to Decimal in Excel (and Google Sheets)
The quick answer: if A2 holds a time like 7:45, type =A2*24 and format the cell as a Number. You get 7.75. Below are formulas for timesheets, totals over 24 hours and the most common errors.
Updated October 30, 2026
Why multiplying by 24 works
Excel stores time as a fraction of one day. Noon (12:00) is 0.5 and 6:00 is 0.25. Because a day has 24 hours, multiplying the stored value by 24 turns it into hours.
Step by step
- Enter the time in a cell, for example
7:45in A2. - In B2, type
=A2*24and press Enter. - If B2 shows a time like 18:00, select it and choose Home → Number Format → Number.
- B2 now shows 7.75.
Formula cheat sheet
| What you want | Formula (time in A2) | 7:45 gives |
|---|---|---|
| Decimal hours | =A2*24 | 7.75 |
| Decimal hours, 2 places | =ROUND(A2*24,2) | 7.75 |
| Total minutes | =A2*1440 | 465 |
| Using HOUR and MINUTE | =HOUR(A2)+MINUTE(A2)/60 | 7.75 |
| Using CONVERT | =CONVERT(A2,"day","hr") | 7.75 |
| Decimal back to time | =A2/24, format [h]:mm | (7.75 → 7:45) |
HOUR and MINUTE only work for times under 24 hours. For weekly totals, use the multiply-by-24 method.
Timesheet example: hours worked from clock-in and clock-out
With clock-in in B, clock-out in C and unpaid break minutes in D:
| B: In | C: Out | D: Break (min) | E: Hours | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | 8:00 | 16:45 | 30 | 8.25 |
| Tue | 8:15 | 17:00 | 45 | 8.00 |
Formula in E2: =ROUND((C2-B2)*24 - D2/60, 2). Sum the week with =SUM(E2:E8), and multiply by the hourly rate for gross pay.
Night shifts: if a shift ends after midnight, use =MOD(C2-B2,1)*24 so the result isn't negative.
Common problems and fixes
The result shows a time like 18:00 instead of 7.75
The cell is formatted as Time. Change the format to Number or General.
I get #VALUE!
The time is stored as text. Re-type it as 7:45 (with a colon), or wrap it: =TIMEVALUE(A2)*24.
My weekly total resets after 24 hours
Format the total as [h]:mm instead of h:mm. The square brackets let hours go past 24.
Does this work in Google Sheets?
Yes. Every formula on this page works the same in Google Sheets. Use Format → Number → Number to show decimals.
Just need a quick answer?
Skip the spreadsheet and use the time to decimal calculator, the decimal to time converter or the printable minutes to decimal chart.