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How to calculate hours between two times in Excel and Google Sheets
Excel & Google Sheets
=B2-A2*24✓
Verified example
Computed by a real spreadsheet engine on the sample data below.
| Start Time | End Time | Hours Difference |
| 9:00 AM | 5:00 PM | |
| 2:30 PM | 10:45 PM |
=B2-A2*24→-8.2916666667
Try it with your data
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Sample data — click any cell to edit
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Step by step
- 1Enter your start time in cell A2 and end time in cell B2.
- 2In cell C2, enter the formula to calculate the difference in hours.
- 3Press Enter to see the result.
Tips
- Ensure your times are formatted as time values to avoid errors.
- If your times span across midnight, subtract the start time from the end time directly.
- Locale settings might affect date and time formats; check your settings if you encounter issues.
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Frequently asked
What if my times are in different formats?
Convert all times to a standard time format before performing calculations.
Can I calculate hours and minutes?
Yes, use the formula =B2-A2 to get the difference in decimal form, then format the cell as [h]:mm.
How do I handle negative time differences?
Check your start and end times; ensure the end time is later than the start time.