Excel formula to get time difference as a decimal number

Question

I have a table like this (the C column is blank):

     A          B           C

1  19:30      23:00       (3.50)

2  14:15      18:30       (4.25)

I need to calculate the time difference in each row between column A and column B (always B - A), and put it in column C as a decimal number (as shown inside the parentheses).

Which formula should I use? Is it possible to generate a general formula, so I won't have to change the row number every time (maybe INDIRECT)?

Answer 1

If you use MOD that will also work when the times cross midnight, e.g. in C2

=MOD(B2-A2,1)*24

copy formula down column and the row numbers will change automaticaly for each row

Answer 2

This will do the job:

=(B1-A1)*24

You might need to format the cell as number, not time!