TIMEVALUE: Google Sheets formulas explained

As a marketer, I'm always looking for ways to make my work more efficient and effective. And one tool that I've found incredibly helpful for accomplishing both of those goals is Google Sheets.

If you're not already familiar with Google Sheets, it's essentially a free, online spreadsheet program that allows you to create and edit spreadsheets collaboratively in real-time. And one of the things that makes Sheets so powerful is the fact that it includes a robust set of formulas that you can use to automate all sorts of tasks and calculations.

In this article, I'm going to walk you through one of my favorite Google Sheets formulas: TIMEVALUE. Here's what you need to know:

What is TIMEVALUE?

TIMEVALUE is a Google Sheets formula that allows you to convert a time value (e.g. "1:30 PM") into a decimal value that represents that time as a fraction of a day.

For example, let's say you have a spreadsheet that includes a column with a bunch of different times written in the format "HH:MM AM/PM" (e.g. "1:30 PM"). If you want to convert those times into decimal values (e.g. "0.604166667" for "1:30 PM"), you can use TIMEVALUE to do it quickly and easily.

How to use TIMEVALUE in Google Sheets

Using TIMEVALUE in Google Sheets is really straightforward. Here's how to do it:

1. Select the cell where you want to insert the decimal value.
2. Type the following formula into the cell: =TIMEVALUE("HH:MM AM/PM")
3. Replace "HH:MM AM/PM" with the time value that you want to convert. For example, =TIMEVALUE("1:30 PM")
4. Press Enter, and voila! Your cell now displays the decimal value for the time you entered.

One thing to keep in mind is that the decimal value represents the time as a fraction of a day. So, for example, a value of "0.5" represents 12:00 PM (noon), and a value of "1" represents 12:00 AM (midnight).

Why use TIMEVALUE?

Now you might be wondering, "That's all well and good, but why would I ever need to convert a time into a decimal value?"

Well, there are actually a ton of different situations where TIMEVALUE can come in handy. Here are just a few examples:

• You're tracking the time spent working on different tasks, and you want to calculate the total amount of time spent for each task as a decimal value.
• You're tracking the attendance of attendees at a conference or event, and you want to calculate the average time spent attending as a decimal value.
• You're scheduling posts for social media, and you want to calculate the optimal posting times as decimal values based on engagement data.

These are just a few examples, but the possibilities really are endless. Once you start getting creative with TIMEVALUE, you'll be amazed at all the different ways you can use it.

Wrapping up

So there you have it: everything you need to know about using Google Sheets' TIMEVALUE formula. Whether you're a marketer like me or just someone who wants to make their spreadsheet work a little bit easier, I highly recommend giving it a try.

And if you have any other favorite Google Sheets formulas or tips that you'd like to share, feel free to drop them in the comments below!