Calculation Issues

How to Convert Excel Time Values from HH:MM:SS to Seconds

Bushra Parveen Oct 10, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to convert time values formatted as HH:MM:SS into a single integer representing total seconds.

How to Convert Excel Time Values from HH:MM:SS to Seconds

Product: Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Calculating total seconds from duration or time data for accurate numeric analysis.
Observed behavior: Changing the cell format or simply multiplying the time value by 60 does not yield the correct total seconds because Excel stores time internally as a fraction of a 24-hour day.

Before you start

Ensure that your source cells are actually recognized as time values by Excel and not stored as plain text. You can verify this by checking if the data aligns to the right side of the cell by default.

Solution 1Recommended

Use a Multiplication Formula to Convert to Seconds

Multiply the time value by 86,400 (which is 24 hours * 60 minutes * 60 seconds) to extract the total number of seconds.

Excel stores dates and times as serial numbers, where one full day equals 1, and any specific time is a fraction of that day. Because of this, multiplying a time value by 60 only returns a fraction. To find the true total seconds, you must multiply this daily fraction by the total number of seconds in a full day (24 * 60 * 60).

Select an output cell

Click on a blank cell next to your time value (for example, click cell B2 if your time data is located in cell A2).

Enter the conversion formula

Type the formula =A2*24*60*60 (or =A2*86400) into the formula bar and press the Enter key.

Change the cell format

Select the cell with your new result, go to the 'Home' tab on the ribbon, locate the 'Number Format' dropdown, and change it from 'Time' to 'General' or 'Number'.

Apply to other cells

Click and drag the small green fill handle at the bottom-right corner of the cell downwards to apply the formula to the rest of your time data.

Use a Multiplication Formula to Convert to Seconds

Formatting is Required: If you skip changing the cell format to General or Number, Excel will likely display the calculated seconds as a strange time format, such as '12:00:00 AM'.

Free Spreadsheet Software

Easily Convert and Manage Time Data in WPS Spreadsheet

WPS Spreadsheet offers a robust, free platform for managing complex calculations and data conversions. It fully supports standard Excel formulas, allowing you to convert time values seamlessly.

1. Open your file: Launch WPS Office and open the spreadsheet containing your HH:MM:SS time data.
2. Input the formula: Select an adjacent blank cell and input =A2*86400 to multiply the time fraction by the seconds in a day.
3. Adjust cell formatting: Right-click the cell, select 'Format Cells', choose the 'Number' tab, and select 'General' to view the total seconds.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel file formats (.xlsx, .xls, .csv)Supports all standard time and date formulas natively without extra setupLightweight application that runs smoothly on older devicesFree to use with a familiar, easy-to-navigate interface

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my formula result show as a time instead of a normal number?

When you reference a cell formatted as Time in a formula, Excel automatically applies the Time format to the result cell. You must manually change the cell format to 'General' or 'Number' via the Home tab to see the raw integer value.

How can I convert time to total minutes instead of seconds?

To convert a time value to total minutes, multiply the cell by 1,440 (which is 24 hours multiplied by 60 minutes). For example, use the formula =A2*1440 and format the result as a number.

Does this formula work if my time includes days, like 1 day and 2 hours?

Yes. Because spreadsheets calculate time based on days, the formula =A2*86400 will correctly calculate the total seconds across multiple days, as long as the cell data is stored as a valid serial number.

Excel & Data Problems