To sum time in Excel, you can directly add time values together using the "+" operator or utilize the AutoSum function.
Here's how to do it:
1. Direct Addition:
- Enter your time values into separate cells. For example, put "6:45" in cell B2 and "9:30" in cell B3. Excel recognizes these as time values.
- In another cell (e.g., B4), enter the formula
=B2+B3and press Enter. - Excel will automatically calculate the sum of the times. In this case, the result will be "16:15," representing 16 hours and 15 minutes.
2. Using AutoSum:
- Enter your time values into a column.
- Select the cell below the last time value in the column where you want the sum to appear.
- Go to the "Home" tab on the Excel ribbon.
- In the "Editing" group, click on "AutoSum." Excel will automatically select the range of cells containing your time values.
- Press Enter to confirm the range and calculate the sum.
Formatting the Result:
Sometimes, Excel might display the sum of times as a decimal number. To correct this:
- Select the cell containing the sum.
- Go to the "Home" tab.
- In the "Number" group, change the number format to "Time." You might need to choose "More Number Formats..." and then select a time format (e.g.,
h:mm) that suits your needs. If the time exceeds 24 hours and you wish to display the total hours, you may have to define a custom format such as[h]:mm.
Example Table:
| Task | Time Taken |
|---|---|
| Task 1 | 6:45 |
| Task 2 | 9:30 |
| Total Time | 16:15 |
Important Considerations:
- Excel stores time as a fraction of a day. This is why formatting is important to display the value correctly.
- If the sum of your times exceeds 24 hours and you need to show the total hours, use a custom format like
[h]:mmor[h]:mm:ss. The square brackets around thehallow it to display values greater than 24. - Be consistent with your time format when entering data to ensure accurate calculations.
