Adding minutes and seconds in Excel is crucial for handling time-related datasets like project durations, race times, or event schedules. Excel adds minutes and seconds like any other numbers once they are entered as time values – the two things that trip people up are how you type them and how you format the result.
Follow the steps below to easily add minutes and seconds in Excel.
➤ Select the columns containing the time values you want to add, then format them by going to Home >> Format Cells >> Custom, and enter [m]:ss as the format.
➤ Next, select the cell where you want to display the added time and type: =B2+C2
➤ Replace B2 and C2 with the cells holding your times. Enter each time as 0:12:49 – typing 12:49 on its own is read as 12 hours 49 minutes.
➤ Finally, format the output cell again by heading to Format Cells (Ctrl+1) >> Custom and entering [m]:ss.
![Overview of adding minutes and seconds in Excel with the [m]:ss format](https://excelinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/1-How-to-Add-Minutes-and-Seconds-in-Excel.png)
In this article, we will discuss four easy methods of adding time in minutes and seconds in Excel.
Simple Addition Using the Plus Operator
In the sample dataset, we have a worksheet called Session Durations containing information about Task Name, First Session and Second Session, all formatted in minutes and seconds. By using the Plus Operator, we will add the time values from columns B and C, then display the total session duration in column D of a separate worksheet named Plus Operator.
This is the simplest and most straightforward method to add minutes and seconds in Excel. This method involves the use of Plus Operator to calculate the total time by summing the values in two cells.
Before you add anything, check how the times were typed. Excel reads the first number in a typed time as hours, so 12:49 is stored as 12 hours 49 minutes, not 12 minutes 49 seconds – and a sum of those shows up 60 times too big. Type minutes and seconds with a leading zero for the hours: 0:12:49. If a column was already typed the short way, =A2/60 converts each value into the minutes and seconds you meant.
The square brackets in [m]:ss matter too. They show the total number of minutes, so 1 hour 57 minutes 59 seconds displays as 117:59. Without them, mm:ss would show only 57:59 and drop the hour. To add a set number of minutes to a clock time rather than adding two durations, see how to add minutes to time in Excel.
Steps:
➤ Open the Plus Operator worksheet, select the header of columns D, then right-click on it to bring out the context menu. From the context menu, click on Format Cells.
➤ Then, from the dialogue box, choose Custom from the category list and enter [m]:ss in the Type field. Hit OK to apply the changes.
![Custom number format [m]:ss typed in the Type box](https://excelinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/4.how-to-add-minutes-and-seconds-in-excel.png)
➤ Next select cell D2, and put the formula:
=B2+C2
➤ Finally, drag the fill handle down from cell D2 to D13 to apply the formula across column D.
➤ The total duration, adding minutes and seconds, should now be visible in column D.
Sum Minutes and Seconds Using the SUM Function
Unlike the previous method, this method can sum minutes and seconds across multiple columns, offering greater flexibility, especially if you need to expand the dataset and include additional columns. One detail makes the difference. The formula below, =SUM(B2+C2), adds B2 and C2 first and hands SUM a single value, so it returns exactly what Method 1 does. To use SUM’s range handling, give it a range instead: =SUM(B2:C2), which you can widen to =SUM(B2:E2) as columns are added. To total a whole column of durations, use =SUM(D2:D13) and keep the [m]:ss format. We will work with the same dataset and add minutes and seconds in column D. We will display the result in a separate Sum Function worksheet.
Steps:
➤ Just like the first method, format column D by heading to Format Cells >> Custom, and putting [m]:ss in the Type field.
![Column D formatted as [m]:ss before the SUM formula](https://excelinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/8.how-to-add-minutes-and-seconds-in-excel.png)
➤ Then, select cell D2 and put the formula:
=SUM(B2+C2)
➤ Next, select cell D2 and drag the fill handle down to apply the formula across entire range.
➤ Column D should now display total time in minutes and seconds format.
Add Minutes and Seconds Using the TEXT Function
The TEXT function in Excel is a useful tool that allows users to display time values in a customized text format, making it easier to present minutes and seconds exactly as needed. We will again work with the same dataset and use the TEXT function to display total duration in column D. The new updated dataset will be shown in a separate TEXT Function worksheet.
Steps:
➤ Open the TEXT Function worksheet and navigate to Format Cells >> Custom and set the Type to [m]:ss for columns D.
![Column D formatted as [m]:ss before the TEXT formula](https://excelinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/12.how-to-add-minutes-and-seconds-in-excel.png)
➤ Next, select cell D2 and put the formula:
=TEXT(B2+C2,"[m]:ss")
➤ Then select cell D2 and drag down the fill handle to apply the formula to the rest of the rows.
➤ You should now see the added duration in minutes and seconds visible in column D.
Because TEXT returns text, the [m]:ss cell format applied earlier has no effect on this column, and the results cannot be added up – SUM treats text as zero. Use this method for a display-only column and Methods 1 or 2 for anything you need to total.
Manually Add Minutes and Seconds Using TIME function
The TIME function in Excel is an important tool that creates a valid time by combining values from separate hour, minute, and second inputs. Unlike other methods, this method is more time-consuming as you need to enter the time values manually. If your minutes and seconds sit in separate cells, point TIME at them instead of typing numbers: =TIME(0,B2,C2) builds 12:49 from 12 in B2 and 49 in C2. Keep each TIME below 1,440 minutes – TIME only returns the part of a value under 24 hours, so TIME(0,1500,0) comes back as 60:00 rather than 1500:00. Again, working with the same dataset, we will manually add minutes and seconds using TIME function in column D. A separate worksheet called TIME Function will display the updated dataset.
Steps:
➤ In the TIME Function worksheet, select column D, then go to Format Cells >> Custom and set the Type to [m]:ss to format the values as minutes and seconds.
![Column D formatted as [m]:ss before the TIME formula](https://excelinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/16.how-to-add-minutes-and-seconds-in-excel.png)
➤ Then, select cell D2 and put the formula:
=TIME(0,12,49)+TIME(0,105,10)
➤ Finally, manually adjust the formulas in the remaining cells of column D to match the corresponding values in columns B and C.
➤ Total time in minutes and seconds should now be visible in column D.
Downloadable Resources
Get our practice workbook or necessary files that we have worked with to prepare this article.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Is My Time Showing a Decimal Number
Your time might show a decimal number because of improper formatting. Make sure to format the column in minutes and seconds format by heading to Home >> Format Cells >> Custom >> [m]:ss.
Which Method is Best For Working With Large Datasets
For large datasets, use the SUM function with a range, such as =SUM(B2:E2) across a row or =SUM(D2:D500) down a column. It is the most flexible option because the range can grow as the data does. Moreover, if your dataset expands and you need to add more columns, you can easily include them in the SUM formula.
Concluding Words
Knowing how to add minutes and seconds in Excel is crucial for accurate time tracking and managing time-based operations. In this article, we have discussed four effective methods on how to add minutes and seconds in Excel, including using the Plus Operator, SUM Function, TEXT Function and TIME Function. Feel free to try out each method and select one that best fits your needs. If your durations also carry hours, see how to add hours, minutes and seconds in Excel.
