diff --git a/esphome/components/qmc5883l/sensor.py b/esphome/components/qmc5883l/sensor.py
index 100ac93520..cce4d93843 100644
--- a/esphome/components/qmc5883l/sensor.py
+++ b/esphome/components/qmc5883l/sensor.py
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ CONFIG_SCHEMA = (
 
 
 def auto_data_rate(config):
-    interval_sec = config[CONF_UPDATE_INTERVAL].seconds
+    interval_sec = config[CONF_UPDATE_INTERVAL].total_milliseconds / 1000
     interval_hz = 1.0 / interval_sec
     for datarate in sorted(QMC5883LDatarates.keys()):
         if float(datarate) >= interval_hz: