Military Time Converter

Instantly convert between 24-hour military time and standard 12-hour AM/PM — with a full reference chart, pronunciation guide, and quick-read explainer.

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Time Converter — Military ↔ Standard

Military Time (HHMM or HH:MM)

Standard Time (12-hour)

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🔊 How to say it:

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What Is Military Time?

Military time is the 24-hour clock used by the armed forces, emergency services, aviation, hospitals, and international transport. Unlike the standard 12-hour clock, it never repeats a number — so there is zero ambiguity between morning and afternoon.

The Two Simple Rules

Midnight = 0000— the day starts at zero hundred hours.
Noon = 1200— hours keep counting straight through to 2359.

How to Convert in Your Head

AM times (midnight–noon):Just drop the colon. 9:15 AM → 0915.
PM times (noon–midnight):Add 12 to the hour. 2:30 PM → 14:30 → 1430.
Military → AM/PM:If hours ≥ 13, subtract 12 and add PM. If hours ≤ 12, add AM (0000–0059 = 12:xx AM).

How It's Spoken

Say the four digits as a single number followed by "hundred" (when minutes are 00) or "hundred [minutes]" when not. Examples:

0800 →"Oh eight hundred"
1430 →"Fourteen thirty"
2359 →"Twenty-three fifty-nine"
0000 →"Zero hundred hours"(or "midnight")

Who Uses Military Time?

US Military, NATO & international armed forces
Hospitals, emergency dispatch (EMS, police, fire)
Aviation (all flight plans use UTC/24-hour)
Shipping, logistics & rail timetables
Most countries outside the US in everyday life

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Military Time Chart — All 24 Hours

Military	Standard	Spoken As

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is 1200 in military time?

1200 is exactly noon — 12:00 PM. It is the midpoint of the military clock. The hour immediately after is 1201 (12:01 PM) and the hour before is 1159 (11:59 AM).

What is 0000 in military time?

0000 (pronounced "zero hundred hours") is midnight — the very start of a new day. Some branches also write it as 2400 to indicate the end of the previous day, though 0000 is more standard.

How do you say 1500 in military time?

1500 is spoken as "fifteen hundred hours" and equals 3:00 PM. When no minutes are involved (the last two digits are 00), you say "hundred" after the hours. So 0900 = "oh nine hundred," 1800 = "eighteen hundred," etc.

Is military time the same as the 24-hour clock?

Yes — military time and the 24-hour clock use the same numbering system. The difference is format: military time is typically written as four digits without a colon (e.g., 1430), while the international 24-hour clock often includes a colon (14:30). Militaries also always append "hours" when speaking the time aloud.

What time zone does the military use?

Operations are often coordinated using Zulu Time (UTC+0), also called Greenwich Mean Time. Each time zone has a NATO phonetic letter — "Zulu" for UTC, "Alpha" for UTC+1, "Romeo" for UTC-5 (US Eastern Standard), etc. A time written "1800Z" means 1800 in the Zulu/UTC time zone.

How do you convert PM time to military time quickly?

Add 12 to the hour (but only for PM times from 1:00 PM to 11:59 PM). Examples: 1 PM → 1300, 4:45 PM → 1645, 11 PM → 2300. Noon (12 PM) stays 1200, and midnight (12 AM) becomes 0000.