# Military Time Converter

Convert between military (24-hour) and standard (12-hour) time instantly. Includes NATO phonetic time format. Full military time conversion chart.

## What this calculates

Convert between 24-hour military time and standard 12-hour time with AM/PM. This tool handles both directions and shows how the time would be expressed in NATO military phonetics.

## Inputs

- **Conversion Direction** — options: 24-hour to 12-hour, 12-hour to 24-hour — Choose which direction to convert.
- **Hours** — min 0, max 23 — Enter hours (0-23 for 24hr, 1-12 for 12hr).
- **Minutes** — min 0, max 59 — Enter minutes (0-59).
- **AM / PM** — options: AM, PM — Select AM or PM (used only in 12-hour to 24-hour mode).

## Outputs

- **Converted Time** — formatted as text — The time in the target format.
- **24-Hour Format** — formatted as text — The time expressed in 24-hour (military) format.
- **12-Hour Format** — formatted as text — The time expressed in 12-hour format with AM/PM.
- **NATO Phonetic** — formatted as text — How this time would be spoken in NATO/military phonetics.

## Details

Military time (also called the 24-hour clock) eliminates the ambiguity of AM and PM by using numbers 00-23 for hours. It is used by the military, aviation, healthcare, emergency services, and most countries outside the United States. The conversion rules are simple: hours 0-11 are AM (with 0 = 12 AM midnight), and hours 12-23 are PM (with 12 = 12 PM noon, 13 = 1 PM, etc.).

Complete Military Time Conversion Chart

Military
Standard
Military
Standard

0000
12:00 AM
1200
12:00 PM

0100
1:00 AM
1300
1:00 PM

0200
2:00 AM
1400
2:00 PM

0300
3:00 AM
1500
3:00 PM

0400
4:00 AM
1600
4:00 PM

0500
5:00 AM
1700
5:00 PM

0600
6:00 AM
1800
6:00 PM

0700
7:00 AM
1900
7:00 PM

0800
8:00 AM
2000
8:00 PM

0900
9:00 AM
2100
9:00 PM

1000
10:00 AM
2200
10:00 PM

1100
11:00 AM
2300
11:00 PM

How to Read Military Time: For hours 13 and above, subtract 12 to get the PM hour. For example, 1730 = 17 - 12 = 5:30 PM. For hours 00, use 12 AM. Military time is spoken as four digits: 0800 is "oh-eight-hundred hours" and 1430 is "fourteen-thirty hours."

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: How do I convert military time to regular time?**

A: For hours 1-12, the time is the same as AM (with 12 being noon). For hours 13-23, subtract 12 to get the PM hour. Hour 0 (0000) is 12:00 AM (midnight). For example, 1500 = 15 - 12 = 3:00 PM, and 0730 = 7:30 AM.

**Q: How do I convert regular time to military time?**

A: For AM hours 1-11, keep the same number (add a leading zero for single digits). 12 PM stays as 12. For PM hours 1-11, add 12. 12 AM (midnight) becomes 0 (0000). For example, 3:00 PM = 15:00, 7:30 AM = 07:30, 12:00 AM = 00:00.

**Q: What is 0000 in military time?**

A: 0000 (zero-zero-zero-zero) or "zero hundred hours" is midnight (12:00 AM). It marks the start of a new day. Some branches of the military use 2400 to indicate the end of a day, though 0000 is more standard.

**Q: Why does the military use 24-hour time?**

A: The 24-hour clock eliminates the confusion between AM and PM, which can be critical in military operations, aviation, and healthcare where miscommunication about time could have serious consequences. It also simplifies scheduling across time zones.

**Q: How is military time spoken?**

A: Military time is spoken as four digits followed by "hours." Leading zeros are pronounced as "zero" or "oh." Examples: 0800 = "oh-eight-hundred hours," 1430 = "fourteen-thirty hours," 0015 = "zero-zero-fifteen hours."

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Source: https://vastcalc.com/calculators/conversion/military-time
Category: Conversion
Last updated: 2026-04-21