How to convert minutes to seconds in Excel

By SpreadCheaters
Page last updated: 06/01/2023 | Next review date: 06/01/2025
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SpreadCheaters
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You can watch a video tutorial here.

Excel treats date and time formats differently from numbers and text. Because of the different scales i.e. 24 hours, 60 minutes, and 60 seconds, when adding minutes and seconds they cannot be treated like regular numbers. When converting minutes to seconds, simple multiplication can be used. The number that the minutes are to be multiplied with depends on whether the minutes are displayed as decimal values or in the time format. 

Option 1 – Minutes displayed as decimal values

Step 1 – Create the formula

  • Select the cell in which the result is to appear
  • Type the formula using cell references:

= Minutes as decimals * 60

  • Press Enter

Step 2 – Copy the formula and check the result

  • Using the fill handle from the first cell, drag the formula to the remaining cells

OR

  1. Select the cell with the formula and press Ctrl+C or choose Copy from the context menu (right-click)
  2. Select the rest of the cells in the column and press Ctrl+V or choose Paste from the context menu (right-click)
  • The minutes are converted to seconds

Option 2 – Minutes displayed in time format

Step 1 – Create the formula

  • Select the cell in which the result is to appear
  • Type the formula using cell references:

= Minutes * 24 * 60 * 60

  • Press Enter 

Step 2 – Open the Format Cells  window

  • Select the cell with the formula
  • Right-click and select Format Cells  from the context menu

OR

Go to Home > Number  and click on the arrow to expand the menu

OR

Go to Home > Cells > Format > Format Cells

OR

Press Ctrl+1

Step 3 – Format the result

  • From the Number tab, select General
  • Click OK

Step 4 – Copy the formula and check the result

  • Using the fill handle from the first cell, drag the formula to the remaining cells

OR

  1. Select the cell with the formula and press Ctrl+C or choose Copy from the context menu (right-click)
  2. Select the rest of the cells in the column and press Ctrl+V or choose Paste from the context menu (right-click)
  • The minutes are converted to seconds