How to Add Hours and Minutes in Excel (4 Suitable Methods)

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If you are looking to add Hours and Minutes in Excel then you have come to the right place. Here, in this article, I will demonstrate how to use Excel for adding Hours and Minutes.

Here. I will explain 4 easy methods for adding Hours and Minutes in Excel. For your better understanding, I’m going to use the following dataset. Which contains 3 columns. Those are Employee Name, Working Time, and Extra Time.

Dataset for Adding Hours and Minutes in Excel


1. Using SUM Function to Add Hours and Minutes in Excel

You can apply the SUM function to add hours and Minutes in Excel. In addition, the SUM function will work in time format. The steps are given below.

Steps:

  • Firstly, you have to select a different cell E5 where you want to see the result.
  • Secondly, you should use the corresponding formula in the E5 cell.
=SUM(C5:D5)

Here, the SUM function will sum up all the times. And, C5:D5 denotes the data range to add.

Applying SUM Function for Adding Hours and Minutes in Excel

  • Subsequently, you must press ENTER to get the result.

As you can see, the result is 8:00 which should be 30:00. Basically, the SUM function returns the result as a time of 24 hours format.

  • Now, you can drag the Fill Handle icon to AutoFill the corresponding data in the rest of the cells E6:E10.

Finally, you will get the following result. If your added time won’t cross 24 hours then you don’t need to follow further steps.

But, as I have more than 24 hours, I have to modify the result.

  • Now, select the output E5:E10.
  • Then, you need to press the CTRL+1 keys to open the Format Cells dialog box directly.

Also, you can use the Context Menu Bar or the Custom Ribbon to go to the Format Cells command. In the case of using the Context Menu Bar, select the data range >> Right-click on the data >> choose the Format Cells option.

In the case of using Custom Ribbon, select the data range >> from the Home tab >> go to the Format feature >> choose the Format Cells command.

After that, a dialog box named Format Cells will appear.

  • Now, from that dialog box, you have to make sure that you are on the Number command.
  • Then, go to the Custom option.
  • After that, you should type [h]:mm in the Type: box.
  • Finally, you have to press OK to get the changes.

Lastly, you will see the added Hours and Minutes.


2. Combining TEXT and SUM Functions to Add Hours and Minutes

You can apply the TEXT function with the SUM function for adding Hours and Minutes in Excel. The steps are given below.

Steps:

  • Firstly, you have to select a different cell E5 where you want to see the result.
  • Secondly, you should use the corresponding formula in the E5 cell.
=TEXT(SUM(C5:D5),"[h]:mm")

Applying TEXT function with SUM Function for Adding Hours and Minutes in Excel

Formula Breakdown

  • Here, the SUM function will sum up all the times of the given range.
    • SUM(C5:D5)—> turns 8:00.
  • Then,  the TEXT function will return a value in text with a given format.
  • In addition, “[h]:mm” denotes the format. Which will convert the time into added hours.
    • TEXT(8:00,”[h]:mm”)—> becomes 32:00.

  • Now, you must press ENTER to get the result.
  • Then, you can drag the Fill Handle icon to AutoFill the corresponding data in the rest of the cells E6:E10.

Finally, you will see the following added hours and minutes.


3. Adding Hours and Minutes in Excel with Generic Formula

You can apply a generic formula for adding Hours and Minutes in Excel. In addition, this formula will work in time format. The steps are given below.

Steps:

  • Firstly, you have to select a different cell E5 where you want to see the result.
  • Secondly, you should use the corresponding formula in the E5 cell.
=C5+D5

In this formula, I have summed up two cell values using the Plus (+) sign.

  • Thirdly, press ENTER.

Here, you can see the result is 1:00 which should be 25:00. This is because the formula counts the cell values as time.

Employing Generic Formula for Adding Hours and Minutes in Excel

  • Now, you may double-click on the Fill Handle icon to AutoFill the corresponding data in the rest of the cells E6:E10.

As you can see, the formula returns the result in a time of 24 hours format.  If your added time won’t cross 24 hours then you don’t need to follow further steps.

  • Now, select the output E5:E10.
  • Then, you need to press the CTRL+1 keys to open the Format Cells dialog box directly.

Also, you can use the Context Menu Bar or the Custom Ribbon to go to the Format Cells command. In the case of using the Context Menu Bar, select the data range >> Right-click on the data >> choose the Format Cells option.

In the case of using Custom Ribbon, select the data range >> from the Home tab >> go to the Format feature >> choose the Format Cells command.

At this time, a dialog box named Format Cells will appear.

  • Now, from that dialog box, you have to make sure that you are on the Number command.
  • Then, go to the Custom option.
  • After that, you should type [h]:mm in the Type: box. Here, you can see the sample immediately in the Sample box.
  • Finally, you have to press OK to get the changes.

Lastly, you will get all the added hours and minutes.

Read More: How to Add Time in Excel Over 24 Hours 


4. Applying TIME, HOUR & MINUTE Functions

You can apply the TIME, HOUR, and MINUTE functions for adding Hours and Minutes in Excel. In addition, this TIME function will return the result in time format. Furthermore, I will add 1 hour and 45 minutes throughout this method. The steps are given below.

Steps:

  • First, you have to select a different cell E5 where you want to see the result.
  • Next, you should use the corresponding formula in the E5 cell.
=TIME(HOUR(C5)+1,MINUTE(C5)+45,0)

Use of Combined Functions for Adding Hours and Minutes in Excel

Formula Breakdown

  • First, the MINUTE function will extract only the minutes from a given time.
    • MINUTE(C5) —> becomes 30.
  • Next, the HOUR function will extract only the hours from a given time.
    • HOUR(C5) —> turns 8.
  • Then, the TIME function will convert a number into time.
    • TIME(8+1,30+45,0) —> gives 10:15.

  • At this time, press ENTER to get the result.

  • Now, you may double-click on the Fill Handle icon to AutoFill the corresponding data in the rest of the cells E6:E10.

As you can see, the result is in 24-hour time format.

Read More: How to Add Hours, Minutes, and Seconds in Excel


💬 Things to Remember

  • Here, method 2 (TEXT) will return the exact result. This means you will get the added hours not the added time.
  • In the case of other methods, you don’t need to do formatting when the added hours will be less than 24 hours. If the added values cross 24 hours then you must do formatting.

Download Practice Workbook

You can download the practice workbook from here:


Conclusion

I hope you found this article helpful. Here, I have explained 4 suitable methods for Adding Hours and Minutes in Excel. If you have any in the comment section below.


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Musiha Mahfuza Mukta
Musiha Mahfuza Mukta

Musiha Mahfuza Mukta, BSc, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, has been working with the ExcelDemy project for 1.5 years. She has written over 97+ articles for ExcelDemy. Currently, she is working as the Excel and VBA Content Developer, creates contents, solves user problems, writes articles etc. Her work and learning interest varies from Microsoft Office Suites, and Excel to Data Analysis, and developing Excel Applications with VBA codes.

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