The HOUR function in Google Sheets is a powerful tool designed to extract the hour from a given time value. This function is particularly useful for time-based calculations and data analysis, allowing users to isolate the hour component easily and incorporate it into various formulae.

Syntax

HOUR(time)

• time: The time value from which you want to extract the hour. This can be a cell reference or a direct time input.

Example #1

HOUR("14:30")

This function retrieves the hour from the specified time string “14:30”, resulting in 14.

Example #2

HOUR(A1)

If cell A1 contains the time value 09:45 AM, this function returns 9, representing the hour component.

Example #3

HOUR("00:15:30")

This call extracts the hour from the time 00:15:30, yielding a result of 0.

Error handling

• VALUE!: This error occurs when the input is not recognized as a valid time format, such as a text string that does not represent time.
• NUM!: This error arises when the input time value is outside the acceptable range, typically if it represents a negative time or an overly large hour value.

Conclusion

In summary, the HOUR function is an essential feature within Google Sheets that facilitates the extraction of the hour component from a time entry. Its straightforward syntax and versatility make it an invaluable resource for various time-related operations, whether for simple calculations or complex data analysis.