Military Time Converter
Convert between standard 12-hour and military 24-hour time formats. Use it for quick questions like 5 PM in military time, 17 in military time, live military clock checks, phonetic pronunciation, and timezone conversion.
How This Military Time Converter Works
Military time uses a 24-hour clock system where the day runs from 0000 (midnight) to 2359 (11:59 PM). This converter translates between standard 12-hour time with AM/PM and military 24-hour format. Enter your time in either format and the tool instantly converts it, provides the phonetic pronunciation used in military communications, and shows the conversion in your selected timezone.
If you searched for 5 PM military time, the answer is 1700. If you searched for 17 in military time, that converts to 5:00 PM. The same pattern works for other examples such as 6 PM = 1800 and 9:45 PM = 2145.
The live clock at the top updates every second, showing the current time in military format. This is useful for anyone who needs to reference military time in real time, whether for communication with military personnel, aviation operations, or international coordination.
Why Military Time Is Used
The 24-hour clock eliminates the ambiguity between AM and PM. In military operations, emergency services, aviation, healthcare, and international business, confusing 8:00 AM with 8:00 PM could have serious consequences. Military time removes this risk entirely. The NATO phonetic time system adds an additional layer of clarity by replacing numbers with spoken words, reducing miscommunication over radio or phone.
In military communications, the time is spoken as four digits. For example, 0900 is "Zero Nine Hundred Hours" and 1430 is "Fourteen Thirty Hours." Midnight (0000) is spoken as "Zero Zero Zero Zero Hours." The suffix "Zulu" indicates UTC time, which is the universal reference used across all branches and allied forces.
Military Time Conversion Rules
Converting from standard to military time follows simple rules. For AM times, remove the colon and pad with a leading zero if needed: 1:00 AM becomes 0100, 9:30 AM becomes 0930. For PM times, add 12 to the hour: 1:00 PM becomes 1300, 9:30 PM becomes 2130. Two exceptions: 12:00 AM (midnight) is 0000, and 12:00 PM (noon) is 1200. Converting back, subtract 12 from any hour above 12 and add PM.
Timezone Support and Zulu Time
In military and aviation contexts, times are often expressed in "Zulu" time, which corresponds to UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). This tool supports timezone conversion so you can see what a military time in one zone translates to in another. The NATO phonetic alphabet assigns a letter to each timezone, with Z (Zulu) representing UTC. This ensures that personnel around the world can coordinate without confusion about local time differences.
Common Military Time Examples
- 0000 — Midnight (12:00 AM) — "Zero Zero Zero Zero"
- 0600 — 6:00 AM — "Zero Six Hundred"
- 1200 — Noon (12:00 PM) — "Twelve Hundred"
- 1700 — 5:00 PM — "Seventeen Hundred"
- 1730 — 5:30 PM — "Seventeen Thirty"
- 2359 — 11:59 PM — "Twenty-Three Fifty-Nine"
Frequently Asked Questions
What is military time?
Military time is a 24-hour clock format where the day runs from 0000 (midnight) to 2359 (11:59 PM). It eliminates AM/PM ambiguity and is used by the military, aviation, emergency services, and healthcare worldwide.
How do I convert PM times to military time?
Add 12 to the hour. For example, 3:00 PM becomes 1500 (3+12=15), 9:45 PM becomes 2145 (9+12=21). The exceptions are 12:00 PM which stays as 1200, and 12:00 AM which becomes 0000.
What does Zulu time mean?
Zulu time is military terminology for UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). The letter Z in the NATO phonetic alphabet is "Zulu." When a time is followed by "Z" or "Zulu," it means it is expressed in UTC, providing a universal reference for coordination across time zones.
How is military time spoken?
Military time is spoken as four digits. Leading zeros are pronounced. For example, 0800 is "Zero Eight Hundred Hours," 1430 is "Fourteen Thirty Hours," and 0015 is "Zero Zero Fifteen Hours."
Is 2400 or 0000 used for midnight?
Both conventions exist. The U.S. military typically uses 0000 to mark the start of a new day (midnight). Some organizations use 2400 to mark the end of a day. This tool uses 0000, which is the most common military convention.
Is my data sent to a server?
No. All conversions happen entirely in your browser. No data is transmitted to any server.