How long does Excel take to learn?

Google finished rolling out its helpful content update last month, which was supposed to provide us with better search results.

Well, it seems like it still has some way to go…

I search for: “how long does it take to learn excel?”

And the top result‘s description from Noble Desktop includes:

“It takes most Excel users approximately 18-20 hours to fully learn this spreadsheet application.”

The article contains five instances of “18–20 hours”.

Excel, a spreadsheet application with hundreds of tools and features, has an interface and core functions that can be learned in a few hours. However, mastering its complex capabilities requires further study, with most users spending around 18–20 hours to fully understand the application.

Like many aspiring Accountants, you might want to learn Excel but worry that it will take too much time. Although it’s possible to gain a basic understanding of Excel’s interface and core functions in just a few hours, it can require additional time and study to master its more complex capabilities. It takes most Excel users approximately 18–20 hours to fully learn this spreadsheet application. However, this number depends on several factors. Keep reading to learn about how you can study Excel and find resources to help speed the process along.

Because of the vast range of tools and functions in Excel, some people estimate it takes approximately 18–20 hours to become proficient with this app’s advanced features. Others place this number at closer to 40 hours or the equivalent of a work week. Some learners take even longer to fully learn the application but then can perform a wide range of Excel tasks with ease.

And this one’s repeated again…

Because of the vast range of tools and functions in Excel, some people estimate it takes approximately 18–20 hours to become proficient with this app’s advanced features. Others place this number at closer to 40 hours or the equivalent of a work week. Some learners take even longer to fully learn the application but then can perform a wide range of Excel tasks with ease.

Although it takes only a few hours to learn Excel’s basic features and become familiar with its interface, most learners study this application for 18–20 hours to fully understand its many capabilities.

They aren‘t the only guilty party. Source after source grossly underestimates the time it takes to learn Excel.

I just wish there were some honest answers.