How to Insert and Format Time in Excel

The fastest way to add the current time to an Excel cell

To insert the current time into a cell, type =NOW() and press Enter. This puts today's date and the current time together in that cell. If you want only the time without the date, use =TIME(hour, minute, second) instead, filling in the numbers you want — for example, =TIME(14,30,0) creates 2:30 PM.

Excel updates the NOW() function every time you open or recalculate the spreadsheet, so the time will change. If you need a time that stays fixed and does not change, you have to type it manually or use a different method, which we cover below.

The most common mistake is forgetting that NOW() includes both date and time. If your cell shows a number like 45000.625 instead of a readable time, the column is too narrow or the cell format is wrong. We'll fix that in the next section.

Key Takeaways

Use =NOW() to insert the current date and time together, or =TIME(hour, minute, second) to enter a specific time without a date.
If a time appears as a long number instead of readable text, widen the column or change the cell format to Time.
NOW() updates every time you open the file or press F9, so use manual entry or a formula with fixed values if you need a time that does not change.
You can add hours, minutes, or seconds to a time using basic math: =NOW()+TIME(2,0,0) adds two hours to the current time.
Excel stores time as a decimal fraction of a 24-hour day, which is why calculations with time work the same as calculations with numbers.

Fixing a time that shows as a number instead of readable text

When you enter a time formula and see a number like 45000.625 or 0.625 instead of an actual time, the problem is almost always the cell format. Excel stores time as a decimal (where 1.0 equals 24 hours), so you are seeing the raw number instead of the formatted display.

Right-click the cell and select Format Cells. In the window that opens, click the Number tab at the top. In the Category list on the left, click Time. You will see several time formats in the middle column — pick the one you want (for example, 1:30:55 PM or 13:30:55). Click OK.

If the cell still shows a number, the column might be too narrow. Position your cursor on the border between the column letter and the next column letter at the top of the spreadsheet. When the cursor changes to a resize arrow, double-click to auto-fit the column width.

Entering a specific time that does not change

If you want to type in a time manually and have it stay the same every time you open the file, just type it directly into the cell. Type the time in a format Excel recognizes, such as 2:30 PM, 14:30, or 2:30:45 PM. Press Enter and Excel will format it as a time automatically.

You can also use the TIME function with fixed numbers. Type =TIME(14,30,0) to create 2:30 PM, where the three numbers are hour, minute, and second. This method is useful if you are building a formula that needs to add or subtract time from a specific starting point.

The difference between manual entry and a formula matters when you share the file. A manually typed time will be identical every time someone opens it. A formula like NOW() will show a different time for each person depending on when they open the file and what their computer clock says.

Adding or subtracting hours and minutes from a time

Because Excel treats time as a number, you can do math with it. To add time to the current moment, use =NOW()+TIME(hours, minutes, seconds). For example, =NOW()+TIME(2,30,0) gives you the current time plus 2 hours and 30 minutes.

To subtract time, use a minus sign instead: =NOW()-TIME(1,0,0) gives you one hour ago. You can also add or subtract a simple decimal number — since Excel counts a full day as 1, adding 0.5 adds 12 hours, and adding 0.041667 adds one hour (1 divided by 24).

If you are working with times in different cells and want to find the difference between them, subtract one from the other: =B2-B1. The result will be a decimal representing the time difference. Format it as Time to see hours and minutes, or as a Number to see the decimal value.

Using time in formulas and conditional formatting

You can build formulas that react to the time of day. For example, =IF(HOUR(NOW())>=17,"After hours","During business hours") checks whether it is 5 PM or later and displays a message accordingly. The HOUR function pulls just the hour number from a time, MINUTE pulls the minutes, and SECOND pulls the seconds.

Conditional formatting can also use time. Select the cells you want to format, go to Home tab, click Conditional Formatting, and choose New Rule. You can set a rule that highlights cells if the time in them is before or after a certain hour, or if it falls within a range you specify.

These techniques are most useful when you are tracking events, logging when something happened, or building a schedule that changes based on the current time. The formulas work the same way in Excel on Windows and on Mac.

Copying a time formula to multiple cells

If you have entered =NOW() in one cell and want the same formula in other cells, click the cell with the formula and press Ctrl+C (or Cmd+C on Mac) to copy it. Then select the range of cells where you want it and press Ctrl+V (or Cmd+V). Each cell will show the same current time because they all use the NOW() function.

If you want each cell to show a different time — for example, times spaced one hour apart — use a formula like =NOW()+TIME(0,0,0) in the first cell, =NOW()+TIME(1,0,0) in the second, =NOW()+TIME(2,0,0) in the third, and so on. This is tedious to type manually, so a better approach is to enter the first formula, then use the fill handle (the small square at the bottom-right corner of the cell) to drag down and let Excel increment the numbers for you.

When you copy a time formula to another sheet in the same workbook, the formula still works. If you copy it to a different workbook, make sure the destination workbook is open first, or the formula may not update correctly.

Common time formats and how to change them

Excel offers several built-in time formats. The most common are 1:30:55 PM (12-hour with seconds), 13:30:55 (24-hour with seconds), and 1:30 PM (12-hour without seconds). To see all available formats, right-click a cell with time in it, select Format Cells, click the Number tab, and choose Time from the Category list.

If none of the built-in formats match what you need, you can create a custom format. In the Format Cells window, select Time from the Category list, then look for a Custom option at the bottom. You can type a custom format code like h:mm AM/PM or hh:mm:ss to control exactly how the time displays. Excel's format codes use h for hours, m for minutes, and s for seconds.

Changing the format does not change the actual time stored in the cell — it only changes how that time appears on screen. A cell formatted as 1:30 PM and a cell formatted as 13:30 contain the same time value, just displayed differently.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my time show as a decimal like 0.625 instead of a clock time?

Excel stores time as a decimal fraction of a 24-hour day. Right-click the cell, select Format Cells, click the Number tab, choose Time from the Category list, and click OK. If the column is too narrow, double-click the border between column letters at the top to auto-fit the width.

Does =NOW() update automatically or do I have to refresh it?

NOW() updates every time you open the file or press F9 to recalculate. It does not update continuously while the file is open. If you need a time that never changes, type it manually or use =TIME(hour, minute, second) with fixed numbers instead.

Can I add time to a cell without showing the date?

Yes. Use =TIME(hour, minute, second) with the numbers you want, or type the time directly like 2:30 PM. If you use NOW() and want to hide the date, format the cell as Time only, and the date portion will not display — though it is still stored in the cell.

How do I calculate how much time passed between two times?

Subtract one time from the other: =B2-B1. The result is a decimal. Format it as Time to see hours and minutes, or as a Number to see the decimal value (where 1 equals 24 hours, so 0.5 equals 12 hours).

Can I use time in an IF statement or conditional formatting?

Yes. Use functions like HOUR(NOW()) to pull just the hour number, then compare it: =IF(HOUR(NOW())>=17,"After hours","During hours"). For conditional formatting, select cells, go to Home, click Conditional Formatting, and set a rule based on time values in those cells.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.