Military Time Converter: Instant 24-Hour Clock Calculator
Convert any 24-hour timestamp to standard AM/PM—and back—instantly. Avoid scheduling errors, align teams across time zones, and keep every shift on time with our free, lightning-fast military time converter.

Military ↔ Standard Time Converter
Current Time Converter
To translate a military-style time (24-hour) into its 12-hour equivalent, follow these guidelines: Remove any leading zero: If the time begins with “0,” drop that digit. Insert a colon: Place “:” between the hour and minute groups. Add “AM”: Append “AM” to indicate a morning hour. Examples: 0100 → 1:00 AM 0930 → 9:30 AM Insert a colon: Change “1200” into “12:00.” Add “PM”: Append “PM” to signify midday. Example: 1200 → 12:00 PM Subtract 12 from the hour: Take the first two digits, subtract 12, and form the new hour. Insert a colon: Place “:” between that result and the minute portion. Add “PM”: Append “PM” because these hours fall after noon. Examples: 1630 → 4:30 PM (16 – 12 = 4) 2145 → 9:45 PM (21 – 12 = 9) Keep it unchanged: These times already reflect 12-hour logic. In military time, “0000” through “0059” simply map to “12:00 AM” through “12:59 AM.” Example: 0015 → 12:15 AMMilitary Time Converter: How to Convert 24-Hour (Military) Time to 12-Hour Standard Time
1. Times from 00:00 (Midnight) to 11:59
2. Exactly 12:00 (Noon)
3. Times from 13:00 to 23:59 (Afternoon/Evening)
4. Times from 00:00 to 00:59 (Midnight Hour)
How to Convert 12-Hour Standard Time to 24-Hour Military Time
Military Time Converter: Reverse 12-Hour to 24-Hour Guide
Turning a 12-hour (AM/PM) clock reading into its 24-hour equivalent is simple:
For times from 12:00 AM (midnight) through 11:59 AM:
No changes are needed—these hours already align with the 24-hour format.
Example:
10:30 AM → 10:30
For 12:00 PM (noon):
Replace “PM” with “00” to mark the start of the afternoon in 24-hour notation.
Example:
12:00 PM → 12:00
For any time between 1:00 PM and 11:59 PM:
Add 12 to the hour.
If the resulting hour has a leading zero (for example, “09” + 12 = “021”), drop that extra “0” so it reads correctly (e.g., “21”).
Examples:
3:15 PM → 15:15 (3 + 12 = 15)
9:00 PM → 21:00 (9 + 12 = 21)
Keep in mind:
If seconds are included, carry them over as well (e.g., 5:23:17 PM → 17:23:17).
Always double-check your result—especially for afternoon times—to ensure accuracy.
Military to Standard Time Reference Guide
Our reference guide makes it simple to translate any 24-hour (military) timestamp into a familiar 12-hour (AM/PM) format. To use it, locate the military time on the left side of the chart and follow the row to the right to reveal its standard counterpart.
Morning Hours (00:00–11:59): In these cases, the military time and the 12-hour time match exactly—just append “AM.”
Noon (12:00): Shown as “12:00 PM” in the standard clock.
Afternoon & Evening (13:00–23:59): Subtract 12 from the hour value, then add “PM.” For example, “18:30” becomes “6:30 PM.”
Midnight (00:00): Reads as “12:00 AM” for both the start of the current day and the start of the next day, depending on context.
With this guide, you can instantly see how any military-style time converts to its AM/PM equivalent—no guesswork required.
Full Military ↔ Standard Time Table
| Military Time | Standard Time |
|---|
FAQ
What is military time?
Military time, also known as the 24-hour format, represents the day from 00:00 (midnight) to 23:59 without AM/PM. Each hour always shows two digits—e.g., 09:00 instead of 9:00 AM—so the display is clear and unambiguous. This digital time format is perfect for calculating shift schedules and tracking elapsed hours without confusion.
How does Shifton remove time-conversion headaches?
Shifton's built-in military time converter and scheduling engine eliminate manual calculations in several ways:
| Key Benefit | What It Means for You |
|---|---|
| Automatic time-zone synchronization | Every user sees times adjusted to their local zone in real time. |
| Unified workspace | Shift planning, time tracking, and messaging all share the same 24-hour display, reducing human error. |
| Flexible display options | Team members can toggle between 24- and 12-hour views, so everyone works in the format they prefer. |
| Stronger team coordination | A single, precise clock format simplifies collaboration across offices and countries. |
Why is it called "military time" instead of something like "day clock"?
The name stuck because armed forces worldwide adopted the 24-hour clock early on—it eliminates ambiguity in high-stakes situations. Today, the same clarity benefits aviation, logistics, and modern workforce management software like Shifton.
What mistakes do people make with military time?
- Not adding 12 after noon: 4:00 PM becomes 16:00, not 04:00.
- Misreading the first digit: 13:00 is "thirteen hundred," not "three."
- Dropping leading zeros: Writing 9:00 instead of 09:00 slows quick scans.
- Midnight mix-ups: 00:00 and 24:00 can both mean midnight; context clarifies whether it's the end of one day or the start of the next.
Are there international variations?
The core 24-hour structure is universal, but notation differs slightly. In France, for example, a space sometimes replaces the colon—15 30 rather than 15:30. Shifton supports these localized displays, giving global teams familiar formatting.
Does every soldier always use the 24-hour clock?
Official reports, orders, and mission logs use 24-hour time. Informally, personnel may still speak in 12-hour terms, and some radio procedures revert to 12-hour for clarity. The same flexibility exists in Shifton's settings.
Pros and cons of military time
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Clarity—no AM/PM confusion | Takes time for newcomers to learn |
| Universal format for international projects | Less intuitive for casual conversation |
| Precision when measuring shift length or overtime | Midnight (00:00 / 24:00) needs context |
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