google-sheetstimegoogle-sheets-formuladuration

How to format a duration as HH:mm?


In the new Google sheets there's a way of formatting a number as a duration. Format -> Number -> Duration.

I don't need the seconds in the duration representation, because they bloat my timesheet.

How can I format a duration as HH:mm (without using a formula to calculate hours and minutes and concatenate that with a colon). Is there a way of using the TEXT formula.

This is how I would like it:


Solution

  • There is no need to use formulas for that, you can define your own custom formats.

    Just go to Format -> Number -> More formats -> More date and time formats. It will open a window with several date and time formats to choose from. You can define your own as well, using the upper text area:

    1. Click on the small arrow on the left, and select the first element you want to add: elapsed hours. Notice there are two different "hours", one for time and another for durations.
    2. Type your separator text :
    3. Click on the arrow again and add the second element: Elapsed Minutes.
    4. Finally, click on each element you added, to determine the correct format (trailing zeros or not, for example).

    Custom Date Format Screenshot