Military Time Converter

Transforming military time into standard time has never been easier than with our Military Time Converter tool. For example, if you need clarification on what 2200 hours equates to in standard time, our tool instantly converts it to 10:00 PM. Streamline your scheduling and eliminate confusion with precise and efficient time management solutions tailored to your needs.

But what actually is military time? Well, here we will be discussing its various nitty-gritties, how it differs from the standard US time and the 24-hour format, how to properly read military time, how to convert military time, and the benefits of using a military time converter. So, let’s start. 

MILITARY TIME CONVERTER

What is Military Time? 

Military Time, also known as the 24-hour clock, is a typical timekeeping method that runs from one midnight to another, divided into 24 hours. This system is widely employed in various scientific fields and is used by militaries to avoid the ambiguity that arises from the 12-hour clock system. This timekeeping method is commonly used in Australia, Canada, and the US. 

A military time-to-regular time converter eases the process of converting these times to standard AM/PM format, which is the common form used in civil society. These standard time to military time converters, allow for time inputs in hours and minutes and convert them into military form, and vice versa, quickly and easily. 

Basic Difference Between Military Time And Standard US Time 

Well, to understand the basic difference between the two, you need to understand the concept behind their functioning, and then the entire thing will seem to you like a cakewalk. 

This clock divides the entire day into two slots of time: 

  • First Slot: Begins at midnight (12:00 a.m.) and goes to noon (12:00 p.m.) 
  • Second Slot: Begins at noon and goes to midnight (12:00 a.m.) 

Let’s take a look at a couple of examples to explain the standard format used in the US to display time: 

  • 1:00 a.m. – One o’clock post-midnight (where AM stands for ante-meridiem, i.e., before noon)
  • 3:30 p.m. – Half past three in the afternoon (where PM stands for post meridiem, i.e., afternoon) 

On the other end of the spectrum, there is the 24-hour clock, which uses a distinctive number for each hour of the day, starting at midnight or 12:00 AM. However, in sharp contrast to the standard US time, in this 24-hour clock, midnight is indicated as 00:00. 

The time spanning from midnight to 12:59 PM is the same in both the clock formats. The only exception is that the AM/PM abbreviation is omitted in the 24-hour format. 

The hours count after 12:59 PM continues in a manner where 1:00 PM equals 13:00, and  5:24 PM equals  17:24, and so on. 

Difference Between Military Time Format And 24-hour Format 

There is a slight difference between the 24-hour clock used in various fields and the military time. 

The English-speaking military forces as well as the US military forces have made the following changes to the standard 24-hour format. 

  • There does not exist any separator between the first two digits representing the hours and the last two digits representing the minutes. 
  • Leading zeroes are widely used in military time while writing. For instance, 19:35 in the 24-hour clock format is written as 1935 in military time. 
  • If someone is speaking out during a military time, they should speak out the leading zeroes loudly. 
  • Here, you should note that while pronouncing military time, you cannot use “thousands”. For instance, if the military time is displayed as 2000, you cannot pronounce it as “two thousand.” Rather, any one of the following would be correct: 
  • Twenty zero zero 
  • Two zero zero zero 
  • Twenty hundred 

Is Midnight 0000 or 2400?

To put it simply, both formatting ways are correct. However, there can be a minute difference in the way one interprets it. 

Time from 00:00 to 00:01 is generally used to represent the first minute or beginning of a day, and 2359 or 2400 is used to indicate the last minute of a particular day. 

Where is Military Time Used And Why? 

In the United States, the 24-hour clock finds wide applications in various specialized areas, like: 

  • Navigation 
  • Meteorology 
  • Computing 
  • Emergency services 
  • Aviation ‘
  • Astronomy 
  • Tourism 
  • The military 
  • Logistics 

Now, this begs the question: why is military time so widely used in different areas? Well, here are the reasons: 

  • To stay away from ambiguity in crucial situations. 
  • To align with the international standards of time formatting within the particular professions. 
  • Military time possesses a shorter and more machine-friendly format, having no abbreviations or separators. Thus, it makes mutual tasks that much more convenient. 

How to Convert Military Time? A Step-by-Step Guide 

Your manager told you to report at , and you can’t figure out what your manager actually meant? Well, this is where our military time converter comes in handy. You can use this supremely engineered tool to easily and quickly convert this military time to the well-known 12-hour clock format. 

All you need to do is enter the time you intend to convert in the 24-hour clock format, and our feature-packed converter will do the rest. If you need to switch between conversion modes, just tap on the ‘switch mode” button. 

From Military Time to Standard Time

If you want to convert military time to standard time, follow these simple steps: 

For times between 12:00 AM (midnight) and 11:59 AM : 

  • Remove Leading Zeros: What we mean by this is that, if the time starts with a zero, you simply need to remove it 
  • Insert Colon: Add a colon (“:”) between the first two and the last two digits. 
  • Add AM: Include AM after the time to indicate that it’s morning. 

For instance:

 0200 becomes 2:00 AM 

1045 becomes 10:45 AM 

For 12:00 PM 

  • Add Colon: Insert a colon (“:”) between the first two and the last two digits. 
  • Add PM: Include PM after the time to indicate it’s noon time. 

For instance: 

1200 becomes 12:00 PM 

For Times Between 1:00 PM and 11:59 PM 

  • Deduct 12: First up, you need to deduct 12 from the first two digits. 
  • Add Colon: Insert a colon (“:”) between the first two and the last two digits.  
  • Add PM: Include PM after the time to indicate it’s afternoon or evening. 

For instance: 

1830 becomes 6:30 PM (18-12 = 6) 

2345 becomes 11:45 (23-12 = 11)

For Times Between 12:00 AM (midnight) and 12:59 AM (the next day)

  • Keep The Time As It Is

Since these times are already in the 12-hour format, you don’t have to make any conversions. Both midnight instances are represented in military time as 0000. 

For instance: 

0020 remains 12: 20 AM 

From 12-hour Standard Time to 24-hour Military Time

Converting 12-hour standard time to 24-hour military time is also not a big deal. Here’s how to go about it: 

For times between 12:00 AM (midnight) and 11:59 AM: 

  • Keep The Time As It Is: Since these times are already in the 24-hour format, there is no need for conversion. 

For instance: 

11:30 AM remains 11:30

For 12:00 PM: 

  • Change “PM” to “ 00”: Replace PM with 00, which would indicate the beginning of the afternoon. 

For instance: 

12:00 PM becomes 12:00 

For times between 1:00 PM and 11:59 PM: 

  • Add 12: Add 12 to the hour value 
  • Remove leading “0”, if required: If the addition results in a two-digit hour, remove the leading “0”. 

For instance: 

4:15 becomes 16:15 (4+12= 16) 

8:00 PM  20:00 (8+12= 20) 

Military Time to Standard Time Chart 

This military time converter chart is the key to standard time to military time and vice versa. In the chart below, you will find the military time in the left column, and if you look across the right column, you can view the corresponding regular time. 

We would like to point out here that military and regular times are the same for times before noon. 

For the afternoon times, all you need to do is look for the military time and add 12 hours to it. This will give you the regular time in the afternoon (PM). 

The below chart shows how midnight (00:00) translates to both 12:00 AM (present day) and 12:00 AM (next day). 

Military Time Regular Time 
00:0012:00 AM (Midnight) 
01:001:00 AM 
02:002:00 AM 
03:003:00 AM 
04:004:00 AM 
05:005:00 AM 
06:006:00 AM
07:007:00 AM 
08:008:00 AM 
09:009:00 AM 
10:0010:00 AM 
11:0011:00 AM 
12:0012:00 PM (Noon) 
13:001:00 PM
14:002:00 PM
15:003:00 PM
16:004:00 PM 
17:005:00 PM 
18:006:00 PM 
19:007:00 PM 
20:008:00 PM 
21:009:00 PM 
22:0010:00 PM 
23:0011:00 PM 
24:00 (or 00:00)12:00 AM (Next Day) 

Benefits of Using A Military Time Converter 

Using a military time converter offers numerous advantages, making it a valuable tool in various scenarios:

  1. Accuracy: Ensures precise time conversion, eliminating errors in schedules and communications.
  2. Efficiency: Saves time by providing instant conversions, especially useful in fast-paced environments.
  3. Clarity: Prevents misunderstandings by converting to a universally recognized format, avoiding AM/PM confusion.
  4. Convenience: Simplifies the process for those unfamiliar with military time, making it accessible for everyone.
  5. Uniformity: Standardizes timekeeping across different regions and industries, promoting consistent communication.

Enhance Your Timekeeping with Clockdiary’s Military Time Features

Clockdiary offers customizable features to meet specific user needs, including the option to enable military time entry upon request. This flexibility ensures precise timekeeping aligned with industry standards, enhancing efficiency in fields requiring clear and accurate scheduling. Experience enhanced time management with Clockdiary’s tailored solutions, accommodating diverse operational requirements for improved productivity. Want to know more? Fill out this form and our experts will connect with you ASAP. 

Frequently Asked Questions: 

Why is Military Time Called a “24-hour clock” and not a “Day Clock”? 

While the 24-hour clock exactly describes the format, military time is the more commonly used term. The name originated because of its widespread adoption in the military, where its precision and clarity raised its value astronomically. 

How do I Read  And Understand Military Time? 

Instead of a 12-hour format, military time utilizes a 24-hour format. In the 12-hour format, the first two digits represent the hours, and the last two digits represent the minutes. In military time, the day starts with “0000”, (zero-hundred hours, or midnight), Anything between 0100-11:59 is AM time, and anything after 1200 is PM time. 

Are There Any International Variations in Military Time? 

The basic 24-hour clock format is consistent internationally. However, there might be slight changes in notation. For instance, France uses a space instead of a colon to separate hours and minutes. (e.g., 16 30 instead of 16:30) 

How do I Convert Military Time? 

If you want to convert military time, all you need to do is distinguish between hours and minutes. If it’s before noon, i.e., 0000 to 1159, keep the time as it is. For afternoon and evening, (1200 to 2359), deduct 12 from the hours component to obtain the PM equivalent. If you want more accuracy, you should definitely opt for a 24-hour military time converter. 

How to Mitigate Time Conversion Hassles with Clockdiary? 

Converting time between standard and military formats can turn out to be a potentially tedious task, especially if you need to convert time on a daily basis or if you have to deal with large amounts of data. If that’s your situation, Clockdiary’s time-tracking software can make the entire process seem just like a walk in the park.

Steps to Convert Hours Military Time to Standard Time

1. Identify the Hour and Minutes:

In the military time format , the first two digits () represent the hour, and the last two digits () represent the minutes.

2. Determine the Period (AM or PM):

Since the hour is , identify if the first two digits that is [] less than or more than 12, if it is less than 12 than it is in AM period or if it is more than and equal to 12 it is in PM period.

3. Convert the Hour:

  • For hours between 01 and 09: Remove the leading zero to convert the hour to standard time.
  • For hours between 10 and 11: Use the same hour as it appears for standard AM time.
  • For 12: The hour remains the same but is considered PM in standard time.
  • For hours between 13 and 23: Subtract 12 from the hour to convert it to standard PM time.

For example: has its front digits ,So it converts to in standard time.

4. Combine the Hour and Minutes:

After converting the hour and retaining the minutes, you get .

5. Add the Period (AM or PM):

  • For Hours between 0100 to 1159 add “AM” period.
  • For 1200 Hours add “Noon” period.
  • For hours between 1201 to 2359 add “PM” period.

Result: Military time converts to   in standard time.

Examples of Hours Military Time at 15-Minute Intervals

1. Hours Military Time: Converts to . This marks the beginning of a new hour.

2. Hours Military Time: Converts to . This is 15 minutes plus from the past hours.

3. Hours Military Time: Converts to . Reaching the mid point of the present hour.

4. Hours Military Time: Converts to . This is 15 minutes past the half hour.

5. Hours Military Time: Converts to .  This is just one minute before the next hour.

For more Conversions, check our Military to standard time converter.

See also: Convert 2300 Military time to Standard time | Convert 0100 Military time to Standard Time.