Quick Navigation
TIMEVALUE Function
Summary
The Excel TIMEVALUE function converts a time represented as text into its decimal number equivalent, representing the fraction of a 24-hour day. This is essential for performing mathematical operations on time values extracted from text data.
Syntax
TIMEVALUE(time_text)Parameters
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| time_text | Text |
Yes | Text string that represents time in any Excel time format, such as "2:24 AM" or "6:35 PM" |
Using the TIMEVALUE Function
TIMEVALUE is perfect for converting imported time data from text format into numeric values that Excel can use in calculations, sorting, filtering, and time arithmetic. It extracts just the time portion even when dates are included in the text string.
Common TIMEVALUE Examples
Basic Time Conversion
=TIMEVALUE("2:24 AM")Converts morning time text to decimal 0.10 (2:24 is about 10% of a day)
Time with Date Ignored
=TIMEVALUE("22-Aug-2011 6:35 AM")Extracts only time portion (0.2743) ignoring the date part
Evening Time Format
=TIMEVALUE("6:45 PM")Converts 12-hour PM format to decimal for calculations
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Errors and Solutions
#VALUE! error
Cause: time_text cannot be converted to a valid time
Solution: Check spelling, format, and ensure valid time representation
Unexpected decimal value
Cause: Time text includes date or invalid characters
Solution: Verify input text contains only recognizable time components
Notes
- Returns fraction of day: 12:00 PM = 0.5
- Apply TIME formatting to decimal result for time display
- Use with TEXT function for reverse conversion (#time to text)
Compatibility
Available in: Excel 2007, Excel 2010, Excel 2013, Excel 2016, Excel 2019, Excel 2021, Microsoft 365
Not available in:
Content last reviewed: December 9, 2025
Update frequency: As needed
Excel versions tested: Excel 2007+