MINUTE Function
Returns the minute portion (0-59) of a time value.
Syntax
Parameters
| Parameter | Description | Required |
|---|---|---|
| serial_number | A date-time serial (or a time fraction). The integer part is a date and the fractional part is the time; the minute is taken from the fractional part. | Required |
Basic Example
Get the minute from a time
=MINUTE(TIME(12, 30, 0))TIME(12,30,0) is 12:30 PM, so MINUTE returns 30.
Advanced Examples
Example 1: Extract minute from a date-time serial
A timestamp like 2024-01-15 12:30MINUTE reads the fractional time part
=MINUTE(45305.520833)Example 2: Exact hour returns 0
A time with no minutesOn the hour, the minute component is 0
=MINUTE(TIME(15, 0, 0))How MINUTE Works
MINUTE takes the fractional part of the serial (the time-of-day component), multiplies it by 24 to get hours, keeps the fractional part, multiplies by 60, and returns the integer minute from 0 to 59. The date portion is ignored.
Important Notes & Limitations
MINUTE ignores the date portion entirely.
A value with no time fraction (a whole number) returns 0.
It accepts only valid serials; text times must be converted first.
Common Errors & Fixes
#VALUE!The argument is text that Excel cannot parse as a time.Fix: Convert the text to a real time serial first (e.g. with TIMEVALUE).
Returns 0 unexpectedlyThe serial is a whole number with no time part, or the time is exactly on the hour.Fix: Make sure the value actually contains a non-zero minute.
Download Practice File
MINUTE
minutePractice MINUTE with Real Data
Download a sample CSV file with pre-populated data and practice exercises for the MINUTE function. Works in both Excel and Google Sheets.
File format: CSV (comma-separated values) - opens in Excel, Google Sheets, and all spreadsheet apps