How to Calculate Hours Between Two Times in Excel (6 Methods)

Method 1 – Calculating Hours Between Two Times by Subtracting Them in Excel

We’ve created the following data table to calculate the hours between two times in Excel. The table consists of 3 columns. The first column contains the starting time, the second column contains the ending time, and the third column contains the total hours.

Steps:

Insert the following formula in cell D5:

=C5-B5

Press the Enter key.
Drag the Fill Handle icon to the end of the Total Hours column.

Method 2 – Using the HOUR Function to Compute Hours Between Two Times in Excel

Steps:

Select cell D5 to insert the following formula:

=HOUR(C5-B5)

Hit Enter.
Drag the Fill Handle icon to the end of the Total Hours column.

Method 3 – Using the TEXT Function to Calculate Hours Between Two Times in Excel

Steps:

Input the following formula in cell D5:

=TEXT(C5-B5, "h")

Press Enter.
Drag the Fill Handle icon to the end of the Total Hours column.

Method 4 – Calculating Hours Between Two Different Dates in Excel

Steps:

Insert the formula below within cell D5.

=INT((C5-B5)*24)

Hit Enter and drag the Fill Handle icon to the end of the third column of the data table.

Note: The number format of the result column has to be General.

Method 5 – Using the IF Function to Calculate Hours Between Two Times in Excel

This method eliminates negative values by always subtracting the earlier time from the later one.

Steps:

Insert the formula below in cell D5.

=IF(C5>B5,C5-B5,1-B5+C5)

Press Enter and drag the Fill Handle icon to the end of the Total Hours column.

Method 6 – Counting Elapsed Time in Hours from a Starting Time to Now

Steps:

Enter the following formula in cell D5.

=TIME(HOUR(NOW()),MINUTE(NOW()),SECOND(NOW())) -B5

Hit Enter.
Drag the Fill Handle icon to the end of the Total Hours column.

Formula Breakdown

HOUR(NOW() ▶ returns the current hour of time.
MINUTE(NOW() ▶ returns the present minute.
SECOND(NOW() ▶ returns the current second of time.
TIME(HOUR(NOW()),MINUTE(NOW()),SECOND(NOW())) ▶ constitutes standard time formula of the current time.