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Date & Time
The Excel SECOND function extracts the seconds (0–59) from a time value — the companion to HOUR and MINUTE for breaking timestamps apart.
Quick answer: the seconds part of a time:
=SECOND(A2) // returns 0-59
Syntax
=SECOND(serial_number)
| Argument | Description | |
|---|---|---|
serial_number | Required | A time or datetime value. |
How to use it
SECOND works on real time values and on text times. To rebuild or shift a time, pair it with TIME: =TIME(HOUR(A2), MINUTE(A2), 0) drops the seconds.
Try it: interactive demo
Live demo
Adjust the input and watch the formula and result update.
Result:
Tips & gotchas
Pull the seconds (0-59) out of a time value. Format result cells as Date or Time so they don’t display raw serial numbers.
Practice workbook
Download the free SECOND practice workbook
Every example on this page, ready to open in Excel — plus practice challenges with answers on a separate tab. No sign-up required.
Frequently asked questions
Does SECOND round?
No — it returns the whole seconds component (0–59); fractional seconds are truncated in the display but the underlying value keeps them.
Works on text times?
Yes — SECOND("2:30:45 PM") returns 45.
How do I strip seconds from a time?
Rebuild without them: =TIME(HOUR(A2),MINUTE(A2),0).
Why does it return 0?
The value has no seconds, or it’s a date with no time portion.
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