How do I use HOUR Function in Excel to extract hour from a simple time value?

To extract hour from a simple time value, use the formula: =HOUR("14:30:00"). Basic Time Extraction This formula returns: 14.

How can I optimize HOUR Function in Excel performance?

To optimize HOUR Function in Excel: 1) Use specific ranges instead of entire columns, 2) Avoid volatile functions within HOUR Function in Excel, 3) Consider array formulas for bulk operations, 4) Cache results when possible. AskFormulas automatically applies optimization best practices.

What is the syntax for HOUR Function in Excel?

The HOUR Function in Excel syntax in Excel is: =HOUR(serial_number). It takes 1 parameter(s): serial_number (required).

How do I use HOUR Function in Excel to categorize employee clock-in times by shift period?

To categorize employee clock-in times by shift period, use the formula: =IF(HOUR(B2)<8,"Night",IF(HOUR(B2)<16,"Day","Evening")). Employee Shift Analysis This formula returns: Day.

Can HOUR Function in Excel handle headers in Excel?

Yes, HOUR Function in Excel can handle headers. For example: =HOUR("14:30:00") will extract hour from a simple time value. This returns: 14

HOUR Function in Excel

Extract hour values from time data. Learn practical examples for time tracking, scheduling, and shift management with the HOUR function.

Excel

Google Sheets

date-time

beginner

Syntax Preview

Excel

Google Sheets

=HOUR(serial_number)

Quick Answer

Comprehensive Explanation

Syntax and Parameters

How to Use HOUR - Step by Step

## What is the HOUR Function?

The HOUR function is one of Excel and Google Sheets' fundamental date-time extraction functions, designed to isolate the hour component from any time or datetime value. First introduced in early Excel versions, it has become indispensable for professionals who need to analyze time-based data, manage schedules, or perform hour-specific calculations.

### Core Functionality

At its core, HOUR operates by examining the decimal portion of a serial number that represents time. In Excel and Google Sheets, times are stored as decimal fractions where:
- 0.0 = 12:00 AM (midnight)
- 0.5 = 12:00 PM (noon)
- 0.25 = 6:00 AM
- 0.75 = 6:00 PM

The function extracts the hour portion by calculating which hour of the day (0-23) the decimal fraction represents. This mathematical approach ensures consistent results regardless of regional settings or time display formats.

### When to Use HOUR

HOUR is optimal for:

**Time Analysis:** When you need to analyze patterns by hour of the day, such as peak business hours or website traffic patterns.

**Shift Management:** For determining which shift an employee's clock-in time belongs to or calculating differential pay rates based on hour of work.

**Conditional Formatting:** In scenarios where you need to highlight or format cells based on specific hours, such as marking after-hours entries.

Avoid using HOUR when you need minute-level precision or when working with durations that exceed 24 hours—in such cases, consider using TIME functions or custom calculations.

### Platform Compatibility

The HOUR function works consistently across platforms with identical syntax:

- **Excel 365:** Full support including dynamic arrays when used with spilled ranges
- **Excel 2019+:** Standard implementation with all features
- **Google Sheets:** Complete compatibility with additional support for array formulas using ARRAYFORMULA
- **Excel Online:** Full functionality with cloud-based time zone considerations

Note: Both platforms handle time zones differently when working with NOW() or real-time data, so be aware of your spreadsheet's time zone settings.

## Syntax and Parameters

### Basic Syntax

The HOUR function has a simple, single-parameter syntax:

```
=HOUR(serial_number)
```

### Parameter Details

#### serial_number (Required)

The serial_number parameter is remarkably flexible and can accept various input types:

**1. Direct Time Values**
- Time strings: `"14:30"`, `"2:30 PM"`
- Date-time strings: `"2025-09-28 14:30:00"`
- Cell references: `A2`, `B5`, etc.

**2. Function Results**
- NOW(): Returns current hour
- TIME(14,30,0): Returns 14
- TODAY()+TIME(10,0,0): Combines date and time

**3. Serial Numbers**
- 0.5: Returns 12 (noon)
- 0.75: Returns 18 (6 PM)
- 44834.625: Returns 15 (from a full datetime serial)

### Return Value

The HOUR function always returns an integer between 0 and 23:
- 0 = 12:00 AM to 12:59 AM
- 1 = 1:00 AM to 1:59 AM
- 12 = 12:00 PM to 12:59 PM
- 23 = 11:00 PM to 11:59 PM

### Important Behaviors

**Decimal Truncation:** HOUR ignores minutes and seconds, returning only the hour portion. For example, both 14:15:30 and 14:45:59 return 14.

**Date Ignorance:** When given a full datetime value, HOUR ignores the date portion entirely. January 1, 2025 14:30 and December 31, 2025 14:30 both return 14.

**Error Handling:** If the input cannot be interpreted as a time value, HOUR returns a #VALUE! error. This commonly occurs with text that doesn't represent a valid time.

## Step-by-Step Guide

### Step 1: Prepare Your Time Data

Before using the HOUR function, ensure your time data is properly formatted. Excel and Google Sheets can recognize time values in various formats:
- Standard time format (14:30)
- AM/PM format (2:30 PM)
- Date-time format (2025-09-28 14:30)
- Serial numbers (0.604166667 for 14:30)

If your times are stored as text, you may need to convert them using TIMEVALUE first.

### Step 2: Enter the HOUR Formula

Click on the cell where you want the hour value to appear and type:
```
=HOUR(
```
Then select your time cell or enter your time value directly.

### Step 3: Press Enter and Verify Results

After pressing Enter, verify that the returned value is between 0 and 23. If you see an error:
- #VALUE! means the input isn't recognized as a time
- #NAME? means there's a typo in the function name
- #REF! means the referenced cell has been deleted

### Step 4: Apply to Multiple Cells

To extract hours from multiple time values:
1. Enter the formula in the first cell
2. Click the cell with the formula
3. Drag the fill handle (small square in bottom-right corner) down
4. Or use Ctrl+C to copy and Ctrl+V to paste to other cells

### Step 5: Use in Calculations

Once you have the hour values, you can use them in further calculations:
- Categorize by time periods: `=IF(HOUR(A2) 12,"Morning","Afternoon")`
- Calculate hourly rates: `=HOUR(B2)*$D$1` (where D1 contains hourly rate)
- Count specific hours: `=COUNTIF(range,14)` to count 2 PM occurrences

Practical Examples

Common Errors and Solutions

#VALUE!

The input value cannot be interpreted as a time

Cause:

The most common cause is passing text that doesn't represent a valid time format, or the cell contains a text-formatted number instead of an actual time value.

Solution:

1. Check if the cell contains actual time data, not text 2. Use TIMEVALUE to convert text times: =HOUR(TIMEVALUE(A2)) 3. Ensure time format is recognized (HH:MM:SS or HH:MM) 4. Remove any extra spaces or characters using TRIM or CLEAN

Prevention:

Always format cells as Time before entering data, or use the TIME function to create proper time values

Frequency: 45%

Example:

#NAME?

Excel doesn't recognize the function name

Cause:

Usually caused by a typo in the function name (HUR instead of HOUR) or using a localized version of Excel with different function names.

Solution:

1. Check spelling: ensure it's HOUR not HUR or HOURS 2. In non-English Excel, use the localized function name 3. Check if the Analysis ToolPak is enabled if required

Prevention:

Use Excel's formula autocomplete feature to avoid typos

Frequency: 15%

Example:

Returns 0 unexpectedly

HOUR returns 0 when you expect a different value

Cause:

The time value is between 12:00 AM and 12:59 AM, or the input is being interpreted as a date only without time component.

Solution:

1. Check if the time includes a date component 2. Verify the time isn't actually midnight hour 3. Add time to date values: =HOUR(A2+TIME(14,30,0)) 4. Check cell formatting to ensure time is visible

Prevention:

Always include time when working with datetime values, use NOW() instead of TODAY() when time is needed

Frequency: 25%

Example:

#NUM!

Numeric calculation error

Cause:

Rare with HOUR, but can occur if the serial number is negative or extremely large (beyond Excel's date system limits).

Solution:

1. Check if the serial number is within valid range (0-2958465) 2. Ensure you're not using negative time values 3. Verify date system settings (1900 vs 1904)

Prevention:

Validate input data before using HOUR function, use data validation rules

Frequency: 10%

Example:

Wrong hour displayed

HOUR returns unexpected value due to time zone or format issues

Cause:

Time zone differences when using NOW() or importing data from different systems, or AM/PM confusion in 12-hour format display.

Solution:

1. Check spreadsheet time zone settings 2. Convert times to consistent time zone 3. Remember HOUR always returns 24-hour format 4. Use TEXT function if you need 12-hour display

Prevention:

Standardize time zones across your data sources and document which time zone is being used

Frequency: 5%

Example:

Best Practices and Advanced Tips

For complete time extraction, combine HOUR with MINUTE and SECOND functions. This is especially useful when rebuilding time values or performing precise time calculations.

Use HOUR to create hourly bins for data analysis. This technique is perfect for identifying patterns in time-series data like sales, website traffic, or customer service calls.

When working with data from multiple time zones, HOUR returns the hour in the spreadsheet's local time zone. Consider converting all times to UTC before analysis for consistency.

When processing thousands of time entries, extract HOUR values once into a helper column rather than repeatedly calling HOUR in complex formulas. This reduces calculation time significantly.

In Excel 365 and Google Sheets, HOUR works seamlessly with dynamic arrays. You can extract hours from entire columns at once without copying formulas.

HOUR vs Alternative Functions

Frequently Asked Questions

Real-World Applications

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Q: Why does HOUR return 0 for noon (12:00 PM)?

**A:** HOUR returns 12 for noon, not 0. If you're seeing 0, you likely have 12:00 AM (midnight) instead. Remember that HOUR uses 24-hour format where 0 = midnight and 12 = noon.

### Q: Can HOUR handle times greater than 24 hours?

**A:** No, HOUR only extracts the hour portion from a standard time value (0-23). For durations exceeding 24 hours, you'll need custom calculations using INT and MOD functions.

### Q: How do I convert HOUR's 24-hour format to 12-hour AM/PM?

**A:** Use this formula: `=IF(HOUR(A2)=0,12,IF(HOUR(A2) 12,HOUR(A2)-12,HOUR(A2))) IF(HOUR(A2) 12," AM"," PM")`

### Q: Does HOUR work with dates or just times?

**A:** HOUR works with both! It extracts the hour portion from datetime values, ignoring the date component entirely. For date-only values, it returns 0.

### Q: Why am I getting different results in Excel vs Google Sheets?

**A:** Both platforms handle HOUR identically. Differences usually arise from time zone settings, date system preferences (1900 vs 1904), or how NOW() is interpreted. Check your spreadsheet settings for consistency.

## Real-World Business Applications

### Human Resources and Payroll

The HOUR function is invaluable in HR systems for managing employee time data. Companies use it to:
- Calculate shift differentials based on hour of work
- Identify overtime hours automatically
- Analyze attendance patterns and tardiness
- Generate hourly workforce distribution reports

### Customer Service Operations

Call centers and support teams leverage HOUR to:
- Track peak call volume hours for staffing optimization
- Measure response times by hour of day
- Route tickets based on time zones and business hours
- Calculate service level agreements (SLA) compliance

### E-commerce and Retail Analytics

Online retailers use HOUR for sophisticated time-based analysis:
- Identify peak shopping hours for promotional timing
- Optimize email campaign send times
- Analyze cart abandonment patterns by hour
- Schedule inventory updates during low-traffic periods

### Manufacturing and Operations

Production facilities apply HOUR for:
- Tracking machine utilization by hour
- Scheduling maintenance during off-peak hours
- Analyzing production output patterns
- Managing shift handovers and quality checks

### Financial Services

Banks and financial institutions utilize HOUR for:
- Monitoring transaction patterns for fraud detection
- Scheduling batch processes outside business hours
- Analyzing ATM usage patterns for cash management
- Tracking market opening/closing times across time zones