Military Time Converter
Convert between 12-hour AM/PM time and 24-hour military time instantly, with a live dual clock and a full 24-hour conversion chart.
Current time (your device)
2318
24-hour / military
11:18:10 PM
12-hour AM/PM
1545
spoken: 15 hundred 45 hours
Military time chart (24-hour \u2194 12-hour)
Quick Answer
Military time (the 24-hour clock) counts hours from 0000 (midnight) to 2359 (11:59 PM), removing AM/PM ambiguity. To convert 12-hour to military: for 1:00 PM to 11:59 PM add 12 to the hours; for 12:00 AM use 00; 12:00 PM stays 12. To convert back: for hours over 12 subtract 12 and add PM; otherwise it is AM. Example: 3:45 PM = 1545, spoken “fifteen forty-five”. This converter does both directions instantly and shows a live clock in both formats.
How It Works
Pick a direction: 12-hour to military, or military to 12-hour
Enter the time (3:45 PM or 1545) - conversion updates as you type
Read the result with its spoken form, and use the live dual clock or the full 24-hour chart for reference
Key Facts
- Two-way conversion: 12-hour AM/PM to 24-hour military time and back
- Live dual clock shows the current time in both formats, updating every second
- Full 24-hour conversion chart from 0000 (12:00 AM) to 2359 (11:59 PM)
- Zero-padded hours are standard: 1 AM = 0100, not 100
- Midnight is 0000 (start of day); 2400 sometimes denotes end of day in schedules
- Spoken form adds “hours”: 0800 = “zero eight hundred hours”
- Zulu time (Z) = UTC, used in aviation and NATO contexts regardless of local zone
- 100% client-side, no signup, works offline
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert 12-hour time to military time?
For PM hours 1–11, add 12 to the hour (3 PM → 15). For AM hours 1–11, keep the hour and zero-pad (3 AM → 0300). Special cases: 12 AM (midnight) becomes 00, and 12 PM (noon) stays 12. Minutes never change.
How do I convert military time to regular time?
If the hour is 13 or more, subtract 12 and add PM (1545 → 3:45 PM). Hours 01–11 are AM as-is (0800 → 8:00 AM). 00 is 12 AM (midnight); 12 is 12 PM (noon). Minutes pass straight through.
What is 1600 hours in regular time?
1600 hours = 4:00 PM. Sixteen hundred hours means 16 hours past midnight; subtract 12 from 16 to get 4, then add PM. Similarly 1500 = 3 PM, 1700 = 5 PM, 1800 = 6 PM.
What is military time right now?
Check the live dual clock at the top of this page — it shows the current time in both 12-hour and 24-hour formats, updating every second. It uses your device’s clock, so it matches your local timezone (and matches whatever your phone shows, just in 24-hour form).
Why do the military and hospitals use 24-hour time?
Ambiguity removal. A written “7:00” could be morning or evening — in a combat order or a medication schedule that mistake can be fatal. The 24-hour clock has no repeated hours, sorts chronologically as plain numbers, and is the international standard (ISO 8601) beyond military use: aviation, logistics, hospitals, and most of Europe and Latin America use it daily.
Is this the same as Zulu time or UTC?
No — those are timezone concepts layered on the same 24-hour notation. Military time you see locally is usually local time. “Zulu” (Z) means UTC: 1500Z is 3 PM in Greenwich, England, and differs from your local 1500 unless you happen to be on UTC. Aviation and NATO append the zone letter (Z for UTC, R for -5, etc.).