SECOND Function in Excel: Second From a Time

⏱ 1 min readUpdated 28 September 2026

DateLevel: BeginnerAvailable in: Excel 2007+

In this article
  1. Syntax
  2. Examples
  3. Example 1
  4. Related functions

SECOND returns 0–59. Mostly used to strip seconds from machine timestamps.

Syntax

=SECOND(serial_number)
Argument What it means
serial_number Time.

Examples

Example 1

=A2-TIME(0,0,SECOND(A2))

Timestamp rounded down to the minute.

HOUR · MINUTE

📚 Part of the free Excel course: Beginner → Expert · Try it in the Formula Lab or ask the AI Helper.

Keep reading

Excel Functions A–ZFIXED Function in Excel: Round and Format as TextExcel Functions A–ZBASE Function in Excel: Number in Any BaseExcel Functions A–ZIRR Function in Excel: Return of Regular (Periodic) Cash Flows
✨ Ask AI about this article

Stuck on a step? Ask a question and the AI answers using this article.

Free · AI can be wrong