The TIME function takes three numbers and converts them to a time. The hour is input as 0-24; you don’t need to enter AM/PM. That is all it does. However, this function helps build formulas that use the output. Dates and times require special care when used in formulas since they don’t behave as regular numbers do in spreadsheets.
You could be working with large tables of scientific data with separate columns for the hour, minute, and second. The TIME function will turn the three columns into one value.
Furthermore, if you want to use a time in a formula instead of referencing a cell with a date value, you need to use the TIME function or surround the date value with quotes. Formulas do not understand times typed directly into a formula.
Syntax
=TIME(hour,minute,second)
hour The number that represents the hour (0-23).
minute A number that represents the minute (0-59).
second The number that represents the second (0-59).
Related functions
DATE – In a similar way to this function, DATE takes three numbers and converts them to a date.
Errors
#VALUE! – The inputs aren’t a valid time, such as “The other day” or “Yester-yester-day”.
Examples
Live examples in Sheets
Go to this spreadsheet for the examples of the function shown above that you can study and use anywhere you would like.