Check Time Input in Google Sheets (Formula to Validate Time Cells)

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Need to check whether a cell or range contains a time value? In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to check time input in Google Sheets using a formula that works with both single cells and ranges.

How to Check Time Input in Google Sheets Using TIMEVALUE

Let’s start with a single cell.

If you use the TIMEVALUE function on a cell like A1, it works only when the cell contains a valid time. Otherwise, it returns an error.

=TIMEVALUE(A1)

Behavior:

  • If A1 contains only a date, it returns 0.
  • If A1 contains a valid time, it returns a decimal (e.g., 0.5 for 12:00 PM).
  • If A1 is empty, or contains text or a number, the formula throws a #VALUE! error.
TIMEVALUE function used to check time input in Google Sheets

To safely detect time, wrap it in an IF formula:

=IF(TIMEVALUE(A1) > 0, TRUE, FALSE)

This returns:

  • TRUE if it’s a time
  • FALSE if it’s a date or invalid
  • #VALUE! if it can’t parse the value

Validate Time Input in a Range

Let’s say you have start and end times in A2 and B2. You want to perform a calculation only if both contain time values:

=B2 - A2

This formula might return incorrect results or errors if either cell doesn’t contain a valid time. Here’s how to check both before calculating:

=ArrayFormula(IF(COUNT(TIMEVALUE(HSTACK(A2, B2))) = 2, B2 - A2, ""))

Explanation:

  • TIMEVALUE(HSTACK(A2, B2)) checks both cells
  • COUNT(...) ensures both return valid time values
  • Only if both are valid, the subtraction happens

If either is not a time, the formula returns a blank ("").

FAQs

Q: How do I check if a cell contains a time in Google Sheets?
A: Use the TIMEVALUE function. If it returns a number greater than 0, the cell contains a time. There is no built-in ISTIME function in Google Sheets.

Q: What happens if the cell contains text or is empty?
A: The TIMEVALUE function will return a #VALUE! error.

Q: Can I check multiple cells at once?
A: Yes. Use ArrayFormula and COUNT(TIMEVALUE(...)) to validate a range.

Prashanth KV
Prashanth KV
Your Trusted Google Sheets and Excel Expert Prashanth KV is a Diamond Product Expert in Google Sheets, officially recognized by Google for his contributions to the Docs Editors Help Community and featured in the Google Product Experts Directory. Explore his blog to learn advanced formulas, automation tips, and problem-solving techniques to elevate your spreadsheet skills.

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