MINUTE function

MINUTE extracts the minute component (0-59) from a time value, returning an integer representing the minutes elapsed in the current hour.

=MINUTE(serial_number)

Generate a MINUTE formula

Describe what you need. The generator will reach for MINUTE where MINUTE is the right tool, and tell you when it is not.

How to get a better answer
  • Name your columns by letter and by header: "column F (Net Value)" beats "the amount column".
  • State every condition, including the negatives — "not cancelled" changes the formula's shape.
  • Say where the data starts if it is not row 1, and whether it will grow.
  • Check the settings above match your spreadsheet: the wrong argument separator is a syntax error on your machine.

Arguments

How MINUTE reads its arguments
serial_numberrequiredMINUTE →
ArgumentRequiredDescription
serial_numberRequiredA date-time value, text string recognized as a time, or reference to a cell containing a time. If a pure date without time is provided, MINUTE returns 0.

Returns

An integer between 0 and 59 representing the minute component of the time.

Availability

Excel: All · Google Sheets: Supported

Worked examples

1. Extract the minute from a customer's signup timestamp

CustomerPlanMRRSignup DateTimeChurn DateTime
Acme CorpPro$5002024-01-15 14:35:22
Beta IncStarter$1002024-02-20 09:12:452024-08-10 16:42:18
Gamma LLCBusiness$20002024-03-08 11:08:33
=MINUTE(D2)

Result: 35

D2 contains the signup datetime 2024-01-15 14:35:22. MINUTE extracts the minute component from the time portion, which is 35.

2. Identify the minute of churn for payment retry analysis

CustomerPlanMRRSignup DateTimeChurn DateTime
Acme CorpPro$5002024-01-15 14:35:22
Beta IncStarter$1002024-02-20 09:12:452024-08-10 16:42:18
Gamma LLCBusiness$20002024-03-08 11:08:33
=MINUTE(E3)

Result: 42

E3 contains the churn datetime 2024-08-10 16:42:18. MINUTE returns 42, representing the minute component from the time 16:42:18, useful for identifying when payment processing typically fails.

3. Flag signups that occurred during peak minutes of the hour

CustomerPlanMRRSignup DateTimeChurn DateTime
Acme CorpPro$5002024-01-15 14:35:22
Beta IncStarter$1002024-02-20 09:12:452024-08-10 16:42:18
Gamma LLCBusiness$20002024-03-08 11:08:33
=IF(MINUTE(D2)>=45,"Peak minute","Off-peak minute")

Result: Off-peak minute

The signup minute for Acme Corp (D2) is 35. Since 35 is less than 45, the formula returns "Off-peak minute", indicating the customer signed up in the first 45 minutes of the hour rather than during the high-traffic final 15 minutes.

Common errors

Which MINUTE error are you seeing?
MINUTE returned an error#VALUE!
Ensure the argument is a valid date/time value. If passing text, use TIMEVALUE() to convert it first: =MINUTE(TIMEVALUE("14:35:22")).
#NUM!
Verify the serial_number is a valid time between 0 and 1 or a valid date serial number. Cross-check your cell reference using NOW() or TODAY() to confirm the value is correct.
#NAME?
Check the spelling carefully. The function must be exactly MINUTE with no extra characters, spaces, or typos.
ErrorWhy it happensHow to fix it
#VALUE!The serial_number argument is text that cannot be interpreted as a valid date or time (e.g., =MINUTE("invalid")).Ensure the argument is a valid date/time value. If passing text, use TIMEVALUE() to convert it first: =MINUTE(TIMEVALUE("14:35:22")).
#NUM!The serial_number is a number outside the valid range for time representation (e.g., =MINUTE(-5) or =MINUTE(999)).Verify the serial_number is a valid time between 0 and 1 or a valid date serial number. Cross-check your cell reference using NOW() or TODAY() to confirm the value is correct.
#NAME?The function name is misspelled or not recognized (e.g., =MINUITE(...) or =MIN_UTE(...)).Check the spelling carefully. The function must be exactly MINUTE with no extra characters, spaces, or typos.

Tips and when to use something else

  • Use MINUTE alongside HOUR and SECOND to decompose a timestamp into all its time components for detailed time-of-day analysis.
  • Combine MINUTE with COUNTIF to count how many signup or churn events occurred in each minute of the hour, revealing peak traffic patterns.
  • For timestamps stored as text strings, always wrap them in TIMEVALUE() before using MINUTE: =MINUTE(TIMEVALUE(D2)).
  • If you need hour-level analysis instead of minute-level, use HOUR() which often provides more actionable business insights than minute granularity.

Related functions

HOURHOUR extracts the hour component from a time value, returning a number between 0 and 23 representing the hour of the day.SECONDSECOND extracts the seconds component from a time value or timestamp, returning an integer from 0 to 59 for precise time-based analysis.TIMEVALUEConverts time text into a decimal number enabling calculations with warehouse receipt times, shipping schedules, and processing timestamps.NOWReturns the current date and time as a timestamp value that updates automatically each time the spreadsheet recalculates.DATEDIFReturns the number of time units (days, months, years) between two dates, useful for calculating durations, aging, or time-to-deadline.

Frequently asked questions

How do I extract just the minutes from a time value in Excel or Google Sheets?
Use =MINUTE(serial_number) where the argument is a time or datetime value. It returns an integer from 0 to 59 representing how many minutes have elapsed in the current hour.
What's the difference between MINUTE and HOUR?
MINUTE returns the minute component (0-59) while HOUR returns the hour component (0-23). For the time 14:35:22, MINUTE returns 35 and HOUR returns 14. Use MINUTE for minute-level precision and HOUR for broader hourly grouping.
Can MINUTE work with just dates instead of times?
MINUTE technically works with dates but returns 0 for pure dates (since they default to midnight). To get meaningful results, your value must include an explicit time component like 14:35:22.
How do I use MINUTE to find events that occurred in the last quarter-hour?
Use an IF statement like =IF(MINUTE(D2)>=45,"Last 15 min","Earlier") to identify timestamps where the minute component is 45 or later, indicating the final 15 minutes of the hour.

Need a different formula?

The full generator is not scoped to one function — describe any spreadsheet problem and it will pick.

Open the formula generator

Reviewed 2026-09-17