Military Time Converter
Convert between 12-hour standard time (AM/PM) and 24-hour military time formats.
How do I convert military time to regular time?
Military time uses 24-hour format (0000-2359). For times 0000-1159: Same as AM (0800 = 8:00 AM). For times 1200-2359: Subtract 12 for PM (1500 = 3:00 PM, 2000 = 8:00 PM). Special cases: 0000 = 12:00 AM (midnight), 1200 = 12:00 PM (noon). Examples: 0630 = 6:30 AM, 1430 = 2:30 PM, 2245 = 10:45 PM. No AM/PM needed in military time. Leading zeros required (0800 not 800).
How do I convert regular time to military time?
For AM times: Remove AM, add leading zero if needed (8:00 AM = 0800, 12:00 AM = 0000). For PM times: Add 12 to hour (except 12 PM stays 1200). Examples: 1:00 PM = 1300, 5:30 PM = 1730, 11:45 PM = 2345. Midnight conversions: 12:00 AM = 0000, 12:30 AM = 0030. Noon: 12:00 PM = 1200, 12:30 PM = 1230. Always use 4 digits: 3:05 AM = 0305. No colons in strict military format (0800 not 08:00).
What are common military time conversions?
Key times: 0000 = midnight, 0600 = 6 AM, 0900 = 9 AM, 1200 = noon, 1500 = 3 PM, 1800 = 6 PM, 2100 = 9 PM, 2359 = 11:59 PM. Business hours: 0800-1700 = 8 AM - 5 PM. Evening: 1800-2200 = 6 PM - 10 PM. Morning: 0600-1200 = 6 AM - noon. Night: 2200-0600 = 10 PM - 6 AM. Quick tip: For PM times, add 12 (3 PM + 12 = 15, so 1500). For AM times after midnight, just add leading zero.
Why is military time used?
Military time (24-hour clock) eliminates AM/PM confusion, critical for military, aviation, healthcare, emergency services. Benefits: No 12 AM/PM confusion (is noon 12 AM or PM?). Clear communication: "0300" = 3 AM, "1500" = 3 PM. International standard in most countries. Prevents scheduling errors in critical operations. Used by: Military worldwide, airlines, hospitals, police/fire, railways, international business. Digital watches often have 24-hour mode. More precise for logs, schedules, coordination.
How do you say military time out loud?
Say each digit separately with "hundred" or "hours". Examples: 0800 = "zero eight hundred" or "oh-eight-hundred". 1430 = "fourteen thirty hours". 1200 = "twelve hundred hours" (noon). 0000 = "zero hundred hours" or "midnight". 2359 = "twenty-three fifty-nine". In practice: Often say "oh" for zero ("oh-six-hundred"). Minutes said as digits ("fourteen-oh-five" for 1405). "Hours" optional in context. Formal vs casual: Military formal uses full format, casual may say "fifteen hundred" for 1500.
What is Zulu time and how does it relate to military time?
Zulu time = UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) in military format, used for global coordination. "Z" suffix means Zulu/UTC (1400Z = 2:00 PM UTC). Prevents time zone confusion in worldwide operations. Example: 1500Z is 3 PM UTC, which could be 10 AM EST or 4 PM BST. All military operations reference Zulu for coordination. Other zones: Alpha (+1), Bravo (+2), etc. Civilian equivalent: GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). Critical for: International flights, military ops, satellite coordination, global communications.
How do I handle minutes in military time?
Minutes work same as regular time (00-59). Examples: 0830 = 8:30 AM, 1445 = 2:45 PM, 2315 = 11:15 PM. Always use 2 digits for minutes: 8:05 AM = 0805 (not 085). On the hour: 8:00 AM = 0800, 3:00 PM = 1500. Quarter hours: 15 minutes = :15, 30 minutes = :30, 45 minutes = :45. Digital format: 14:30 or 1430 (both acceptable, no colon more formal). Seconds optional: 153045 = 3:30:45 PM. For scheduling, standard minutes 00-59 apply normally.