How military time works
Military time is the 24-hour clock written as four digits with no colon and no AM or PM. The day starts at 0000 (midnight) and runs to 2359 (11:59 PM). The first two digits are the hour, 00 to 23, and the last two are the minutes. 2:45 PM is 1445; 9:05 AM is 0905.
The leading zero is always written, so the time is always four digits: 7:30 AM is 0730, not 730. It is commonly read aloud as hours, for example "fourteen forty-five hours" for 1445, though the exact spoken style varies by service and workplace.
Outside the military the same clock is used by hospitals, emergency services, aviation, transit timetables and most of the world, usually written with a colon (14:45).
Converting in your head
From AM/PM to military: for 1:00 AM to 11:59 AM, write the time as four digits (8:15 AM = 0815). For 1:00 PM to 11:59 PM, add 12 to the hour (8:15 PM = 2015). 12:xx PM stays 12xx (12:30 PM = 1230), and 12:xx AM becomes 00xx (12:30 AM = 0030).
From military to AM/PM: if the hour is 13 or more, subtract 12 and add PM (1830 = 6:30 PM). If it is 01 to 11, add AM (0945 = 9:45 AM). 12xx is PM (1215 = 12:15 PM) and 00xx is 12:xx AM (0015 = 12:15 AM).
Noon, midnight, 0000 and 2400
Noon and midnight cause most conversion errors. The National Institute of Standards and Technology points out that "12 a.m." and "12 p.m." are ambiguous, because noon is neither before nor after noon. In everyday US usage 12:00 PM means noon and 12:00 AM means midnight at the start of the day, but "12 noon" and "12 midnight" are clearer.
The 24-hour clock removes the doubt: 1200 is noon, 0000 is midnight at the beginning of a day, and 2400 is midnight at the end of a day. 2400 on Monday and 0000 on Tuesday are the same moment. For deadlines, NIST suggests stating a date with 11:59 PM or 12:01 AM, or using 0000 and 2400.
Military time chart
Midnight to morning: 12:00 AM = 0000, 1:00 AM = 0100, 2:00 AM = 0200, 3:00 AM = 0300, 4:00 AM = 0400, 5:00 AM = 0500.
Morning: 6:00 AM = 0600, 7:00 AM = 0700, 8:00 AM = 0800, 9:00 AM = 0900, 10:00 AM = 1000, 11:00 AM = 1100.
Afternoon: 12:00 PM (noon) = 1200, 1:00 PM = 1300, 2:00 PM = 1400, 3:00 PM = 1500, 4:00 PM = 1600, 5:00 PM = 1700.
Evening: 6:00 PM = 1800, 7:00 PM = 1900, 8:00 PM = 2000, 9:00 PM = 2100, 10:00 PM = 2200, 11:00 PM = 2300. Minutes carry over unchanged: 11:59 PM = 2359.
The conversion rules
AM: military hour = hour, except 12 AM → 00PM: military hour = hour + 12, except 12 PM → 12Military → 12-hour: hour 00 → 12 AM; 01–11 → AM; 12 → 12 PM; 13–23 → hour − 12, PM- Minutes never change. The result is written as four digits, with a leading zero for hours before 10.
Worked examples
- 2:45 PM to military time: it is PM and not 12, so add 12 to the hour: 2 + 12 = 14. Military time 1445.
- 1830 to 12-hour time: 18 is more than 12, so subtract 12: 18 − 12 = 6. That is 6:30 PM.
- 12:30 AM to military time: the 12 AM hour becomes 00, so it is 0030.
- 0905 to 12-hour time: the hour 09 is under 12, so it is 9:05 AM.
Frequently asked questions
What is 1700 in regular time?
5:00 PM. Subtract 12 from any hour of 13 or more and add PM: 17 − 12 = 5.
What is 12:00 AM in military time?
0000 — midnight at the start of the day. Midnight at the end of a day can also be written 2400. Noon, 12:00 PM, is 1200.
Is midnight 0000 or 2400?
Both are used. 0000 is the start of a day and 2400 is the end of one, so 2400 Monday and 0000 Tuesday are the same moment. Most digital clocks show 00:00.
How do you convert PM to military time?
Add 12 to the hour, except for 12 PM, which stays 12. 3:20 PM is 1520 and 11:45 PM is 2345.
Does military time use a colon?
Military style usually doesn't: 1445. Civilian 24-hour time usually does: 14:45. Both mean 2:45 PM, and this converter accepts either.
Sources
Last reviewed for 2026. How we calculate.