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How to sum hours worked from a timesheet in Excel and Google Sheets
Topic:SUM & aggregationHeads up: Excel and Google Sheets do this differently.
Excel
=SUM(B2:B6)Google Sheets
=SUM(B2:B6)✓
Verified example
Computed by a real spreadsheet engine on the sample data below.
| Date | Hours Worked | Notes |
| Mon | 8 | |
| Tue | 7.5 | |
| Wed | 9 | |
| Thu | 8 |
=SUM(B2:B6)→32.5
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Step by step
- 1Enter start times in column A and end times in column B. In column C calculate hours per day: =B2-A2.
- 2If shifts can cross midnight, use: =MOD(B2-A2,1) to handle overnight correctly.
- 3In C7 (below the data) enter =SUM(C2:C6) to total all hours.
- 4Format C7 as [h]:mm in Excel (Ctrl+1 > Custom > [h]:mm) or Duration in Google Sheets (Format > Number > Duration) so values over 24 hours display correctly.
Tips
- Never format timesheet totals as a standard Time format — it wraps at 24 hours. Use [h]:mm (Excel) or Duration (Sheets) exclusively for cumulative time.
Need it for your exact data?
Describe your columns in plain English and get the precise formula for your sheet, with the right Excel or Sheets syntax.
Frequently asked
Why does my total show 1:30 when I expect 25:30?
The cell is using a standard Time format which resets at 24 hours. Change it to [h]:mm in Excel or Duration in Sheets.
How do I convert the total hours to a decimal for pay calculations?
Multiply the time value by 24: =SUM(C2:C6)*24. Format this cell as Number, not Time.
More on SUM & aggregation
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