Skip to main content
  • Login
Cart
Exceljet logo Exceljet
  • Training
  • Videos
  • Functions
  • Formulas
  • Shortcuts
  • Articles
Cart
  • Login
  • Training
  • Videos
  • Functions
  • Formulas
  • Shortcuts
  • Articles
  • Login

You are here

Home › Videos › How to use time formatting in Excel

How to use time formatting in Excel

Transcript 

In this lesson we'll look at the Time format. Like the Date format, the Time format includes a number of built-in options for displaying time.

Let's take a look.

Here we have a set of times in column B of our table. Let's start off by copying these times to all columns, then adjust formats to match those shown in the table header.

Let's look first at the default time format in column C. This is the format you get when you apply the Time format using the menu in the ribbon.

If we check this format in the Format Cells dialog, we see it listed first, with an asterisk.

The asterisk means that this time format is controlled by the regional settings on the computer.

If we change the time format in Windows, in the Region and Language control panel, we'll see the change in Excel for cells that use this time format.

This means that this time format may look different on different computers, depending on regional settings. If you need to ensure that the display of time is always the same, it's better to use another format option.

To set the time format indicated in columns D through H, we need to use the Format Cells dialog.

We can set time to display in military format—without the AM or PM—with and without seconds.

We can also use Format Cells to show a standard AM/PM time with and without seconds.

Finally, we have the option to select a time format that includes a date. Because these times don't contain a date component, Excel will display the first date in its date system. As a result, time formats that include a date only make sense when the cell contains both a date and a time.  

Master Excel with practice. Download this worksheet (and dozens more) in our Core Excel course. Learn by doing.

Dave Bruns Profile Picture

Author

Dave Bruns

Hi - I'm Dave Bruns, and I run Exceljet with my wife, Lisa. Our goal is to help you work faster in Excel. We create short videos, and clear examples of formulas, functions, pivot tables, conditional formatting, and charts.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Award  

Exceljet Training

  • Excel 101
  • Excel Fundamentals
  • Conditional Formatting
  • Essential Formulas
  • Advanced Formulas
  • Pivot Tables
  • Excel Tables
  • Excel Shortcuts
  • Excel Charts
  • Course Bundles
A really nice clean website that answers excel questions beautifully and understandably. One of the very best I have seen. keep up the good work.
Geoff
More Testimonials

Get Training

Quick, clean, and to the point training

Learn Excel with high quality video training. Our videos are quick, clean, and to the point, so you can learn Excel in less time, and easily review key topics when needed. Each video comes with its own practice worksheet.

View Paid Training & Bundles
Excel foundational video course
Excel Pivot Table video training course
Excel formulas and functions video training course
Excel Charts video training course
Video training for Excel Tables
Dynamic Array Formulas
Exceljet logo Exceljet
Quick, clean, and to the point

Resources

  • Training
  • Videos
  • Functions
  • Formulas
  • Shortcuts
  • Articles

About Us

  • About
  • Testimonials
  • Topics
  • Contact
  • Donate

Newsletter Sign-up

Work faster in Excel. Join more than 100,000 people who get weekly tips from us.
© 2012-2025 Exceljet. Terms of use
  • Visit our Twitter page