How to Add Time in Excel (and total hours over 24)

Add a column of times

=SUM(B2:B8)

Total shows the wrong number? Use [h]:mm

A week of 8-hour days is 40 hours, but Excel shows 16:00 — it rolls over at 24 like a clock. Fix:

1. Select the total cell, Ctrl+1.
2. Custom › Type: [h]:mm › OK.

Now it shows 40:00. The square brackets let hours go past 24. Seconds too: [h]:mm:ss.

Add two times

=A2+B2

Add hours or minutes to a time

=A2+TIME(2,30,0)
=A2+45/1440

TIME(hours, minutes, seconds). 1440 is minutes in a day. More: add hours to a time.

Total as decimal hours (for pay)

=SUM(B2:B8)*24

Format as Number. 40:30 → 40.5. Then multiply by the hourly rate. See time to decimal.

SUM gives 0

The times are text. Test with =ISNUMBER(B2); convert with =TIMEVALUE(B2) or these fixes.

Timesheets: hours worked · Averages: average time