Convert Military Time
Enter a time in either 12-hour or 24-hour format and get the instant conversion.
How the Military Time Converter Works
Convert any time in four simple steps.
Enter the Time
Input the hour and minute in 12-hour format. Select AM or PM from the dropdown.
Click Convert
Press "Convert" to see the instant military time equivalent. The conversion runs automatically as you type.
See the Result
View both the 4-digit military time, the spoken pronunciation, and the conversion formula used.
Reverse Convert
Use the reverse converter below to convert from military time back to standard 12-hour format.
Understanding Military Time
The 24-hour clock and why it's used worldwide.
What is military time?
Military time uses the 24-hour clock format where hours run from 00 to 23. There is no AM or PM — every hour of the day has a unique number. Midnight is 0000, noon is 1200, and 11 PM is 2300.
How to convert: Standard → Military
For AM times: use the same hour with a leading zero. 9:15 AM = 0915. For PM times: add 12 to the hour. 3:45 PM = 1545 (3+12=15). Two special cases: 12:00 AM = 0000, 12:00 PM = 1200.
How to convert: Military → Standard
For hours 00–11: use the hour directly and add AM. 0730 = 7:30 AM. For hours 13–23: subtract 12 and add PM. 2015 = 8:15 PM. Special case: 0000 = 12:00 AM, 1200 = 12:00 PM.
Reading military time aloud
Military time is read digit by digit. 0900 = "zero nine hundred." 1430 = "fourteen thirty." 0015 = "zero zero fifteen." Exact hours (e.g., 0800) include the word "hundred."
Complete Military Time Chart
Full 24-hour conversion reference for every hour of the day.
AM hours (midnight to noon)
The AM hours are straightforward. The military time is the hour with a leading zero: 1:00 AM = 0100, 9:00 AM = 0900, 11:00 AM = 1100. The only special case is midnight: 12:00 AM = 0000.
PM hours (noon to midnight)
For PM, add 12 to the hour: 1:00 PM = 1300, 5:00 PM = 1700, 11:00 PM = 2300. Noon itself stays the same: 12:00 PM = 1200. This is where most conversion errors happen.
Quick mental math
For PM times, just subtract 2 from the military hour's ones digit: 1500 → 5-2=3 → 3:00 PM. Or, take the last two digits of the military hour and subtract 12: 20-12=8 → 8:00 PM. Whichever trick sticks.
When to Use a Military Time Converter
Essential for anyone working with 24-hour time formats.
Military & Defense
All branches of the armed forces use 24-hour time exclusively. Orders, briefings, and logs are all in military time to prevent AM/PM confusion.
Healthcare & Medical
Hospitals and medical facilities use military time for charting, medication schedules, and shift changes. An error between 8 AM and 8 PM could be life-threatening.
Aviation & Travel
Pilots, air traffic controllers, and airlines use 24-hour time for all schedules and communications. Flight times are always posted in military time internationally.
Law Enforcement
Police reports, dispatch records, and incident logs all use 24-hour time. Precision in time-stamping evidence is critical for legal proceedings.
International Business
Most countries outside the US use 24-hour time as the standard format. Understanding military time is essential for global communication and scheduling.
IT & Programming
Server logs, cron jobs, and database timestamps use 24-hour format. Developers need to convert between formats regularly for debugging and scheduling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the Military Time Converter.
Military time is a timekeeping convention using the 24-hour clock format. Hours run from 00 (midnight) to 23 (11 PM). For example, 1:00 PM becomes 1300 and 6:30 AM becomes 0630. It eliminates the ambiguity of AM and PM.
For AM hours: keep the same number but add a leading zero if needed. 9:30 AM = 0930. For PM hours: add 12 to the hour. 2:45 PM = 14:45 (2+12=14). Special cases: 12:00 AM (midnight) = 0000, 12:00 PM (noon) = 1200.
For hours 00–11: the hour stays the same, add AM. 0930 = 9:30 AM. For hours 13–23: subtract 12, add PM. 1700 = 5:00 PM (17-12=5). Special cases: 0000 = 12:00 AM (midnight), 1200 = 12:00 PM (noon).
0000 (or "zero hundred hours") is 12:00 AM — midnight. Some branches use 2400 for the end of a day and 0000 for the start of a new day on the same midnight moment.
The 24-hour format eliminates AM/PM confusion — critical in contexts where a scheduling error could be dangerous. In military operations and medical settings, mistaking 8 AM for 8 PM could have serious consequences.
Almost. Standard 24-hour time uses a colon (14:30) while military time traditionally does not (1430). Both use the same numbering system. Our converter supports both notations.