XL2000: Converting a Decimal Number to hh:mm:ss Format in Excel

The following formula converts decimal minutes to the hh:mm:ss format in Microsoft Excel where Minutes is a decimal number between 0.0 and 1440.0. The portion of the number to the left of the decimal refers to the number of minutes. The decimal portion of the number refers to seconds. As an example, 1439.0 minutes is equal to 23 hours and 59 minutes and converts to "23:59:00." There are 1440.0 minutes in 24 hours.

Using the formula shown above returns a serial number. To display the serial number in the appropriate format, follow these steps:

1. On the Format menu, click Cells.
2. Click the Number tab.
3. Under Category, click Custom, and then enter hh:mm:ss under Type.

To convert hours and minutes from a decimal number to the hh:mm:ss format, use the following formula:

Example

• Use this formula to convert 4.5 minutes to 0:04:30:
  =4.5/1440
• Use this formula to convert 4.5 hours to 04:30:00:
  =4.5/24