Military Time Converter
Free military time converter. Convert between 24-hour military time and 12-hour standard time instantly. Perfect for reading military schedules, train times, and international formats.
Our free military time converter makes it easy to convert between 24-hour military time and 12-hour standard time. Whether you're reading a military schedule, train timetable, hospital shift schedule, or international time format, this tool helps you quickly understand what time it represents.
What is Military Time?
Military time (also known as 24-hour time) is a timekeeping system where the day runs from midnight to midnight and is divided into 24 hours. Unlike the 12-hour clock, military time doesn't use AM and PM designations. Instead, hours are numbered from 00 to 23.
How to Read Military Time
Military time is expressed as four digits without a colon (though colons are sometimes used for readability):
- 0000 - 1159: Midnight to just before noon (AM hours)
- 1200 - 2359: Noon to just before midnight (PM hours)
Common Military Time Conversions
| Military Time | Standard Time |
|---|---|
| 0000 | 12:00 AM (Midnight) |
| 0100 | 1:00 AM |
| 0600 | 6:00 AM |
| 1200 | 12:00 PM (Noon) |
| 1300 | 1:00 PM |
| 1400 | 2:00 PM |
| 1500 | 3:00 PM |
| 1600 | 4:00 PM |
| 1700 | 5:00 PM |
| 1800 | 6:00 PM |
| 1900 | 7:00 PM |
| 2000 | 8:00 PM |
| 2100 | 9:00 PM |
| 2200 | 10:00 PM |
| 2300 | 11:00 PM |
Why Use Military Time?
Military time eliminates confusion between AM and PM, making it preferred in situations where precision is critical:
- Military Operations: Prevents miscommunication in critical situations
- Aviation: International standard for flight schedules
- Healthcare: Hospital shift schedules and medication times
- Emergency Services: Police, fire, and EMS use 24-hour format
- International Travel: Most countries use 24-hour time
- Scientific Research: Consistent time recording
Countries Using 24-Hour Time
Most countries outside the United States use 24-hour time as the standard:
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- France
- Japan
- Australia
- Canada (official)
- Most of Europe, Asia, and South America
How to Convert Military Time
Military to Standard:
- If the hour is 0000-1159: It's AM hours (0000 = 12:00 AM, 0100 = 1:00 AM, etc.)
- If the hour is 1200-2359: It's PM hours (1200 = 12:00 PM, 1300 = 1:00 PM, etc.)
- Subtract 12 from hours 1300-2359 to get PM time
Standard to Military:
- 12:00 AM (midnight) = 0000
- 1:00 AM - 11:59 AM = Same hour (0100 - 1159)
- 12:00 PM (noon) = 1200
- 1:00 PM - 11:59 PM = Add 12 to hour (1300 - 2359)
Saying Military Time
In military contexts, time is often spoken differently:
- 1400 is "fourteen hundred hours"
- 0930 is "zero nine thirty hours"
- 0001 is "zero zero zero one hours"
- 2400 is sometimes used to mean midnight at the end of a day
Midnight Confusion
Midnight can be confusing in both systems:
- 0000 = Start of day (12:00 AM)
- 2400 = End of day (also 12:00 AM, but next day)
- 12:00 AM = Midnight (start of day)
- 12:00 PM = Noon
To avoid confusion, use 0000 for midnight at the start of a day and avoid using 2400.