Whether or not you have served in the military, you’ve probably heard of military time. You may have heard someone say a time like 0800, 1400, or 1630. If you’re not familiar with the 24-hour clock, those numbers can be confusing at first.
Military time is a 24-hour time format that runs from 0000 at midnight to 2359 at 11:59 p.m. It does not use a.m. or p.m. Instead, each time is written as a four-digit number.
This system helps prevent confusion. For example, 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. can sound similar if the a.m. or p.m. is missed. In military time, those times are written as 0700 and 1900, which makes the difference clear.
What Is Military Time?
Standard time divides the day into two twelve-hour periods: 12:00 a.m. to 11:59 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. Each hour is followed by either a.m. or p.m. to show whether the time occurs before or after noon.
Military time uses one continuous 24-hour period. The day begins at 0000 and ends at 2359. Because there is no a.m. or p.m., military time is often used in settings where accuracy matters.
Military Time Chart
Use the chart below to quickly convert military time to standard time.
| Military Time | Standard Time | Spoken As |
|---|---|---|
| 0000 | 12:00 a.m. | Zero hundred hours / midnight |
| 0100 | 1:00 a.m. | Zero one hundred hours |
| 0200 | 2:00 a.m. | Zero two hundred hours |
| 0300 | 3:00 a.m. | Zero three hundred hours |
| 0400 | 4:00 a.m. | Zero four hundred hours |
| 0500 | 5:00 a.m. | Zero five hundred hours |
| 0600 | 6:00 a.m. | Zero six hundred hours |
| 0700 | 7:00 a.m. | Zero seven hundred hours |
| 0800 | 8:00 a.m. | Zero eight hundred hours |
| 0900 | 9:00 a.m. | Zero nine hundred hours |
| 1000 | 10:00 a.m. | Ten hundred hours |
| 1100 | 11:00 a.m. | Eleven hundred hours |
| 1200 | 12:00 p.m. | Twelve hundred hours / noon |
| 1300 | 1:00 p.m. | Thirteen hundred hours |
| 1400 | 2:00 p.m. | Fourteen hundred hours |
| 1500 | 3:00 p.m. | Fifteen hundred hours |
| 1600 | 4:00 p.m. | Sixteen hundred hours |
| 1700 | 5:00 p.m. | Seventeen hundred hours |
| 1800 | 6:00 p.m. | Eighteen hundred hours |
| 1900 | 7:00 p.m. | Nineteen hundred hours |
| 2000 | 8:00 p.m. | Twenty hundred hours |
| 2100 | 9:00 p.m. | Twenty-one hundred hours |
| 2200 | 10:00 p.m. | Twenty-two hundred hours |
| 2300 | 11:00 p.m. | Twenty-three hundred hours |
Common Military Time Conversions
How to Convert Military Time to Standard Time
For times from 0000 to 1159
If the military time is between 0000 and 1159, it is an a.m. time. Add a colon between the hour and minute if needed.
Example: 0800 = 8:00 a.m.
For 1200
1200 is noon.
Example: 1200 = 12:00 p.m.
For times from 1300 to 2359
If the military time is 1300 or higher, subtract 1200 to get the standard p.m. time.
Example: 1545 – 1200 = 3:45 p.m.
For midnight
Midnight is usually written as 0000. In some schedules, 2400 may be used to show the end of a day, but 0000 is the standard way to show the start of a new day.
How to Convert Standard Time to Military Time
To convert standard time to military time, use these rules:
- For a.m. times from 1:00 a.m. to 9:59 a.m., add a zero to the front. For example, 8:00 a.m. becomes 0800.
- For a.m. times from 10:00 a.m. to 11:59 a.m., remove the colon and a.m. For example, 10:30 a.m. becomes 1030.
- For 12:00 p.m. to 12:59 p.m., keep the hour as 12. For example, 12:45 p.m. becomes 1245.
- For p.m. times after 12:59 p.m., add 1200. For example, 4:30 p.m. becomes 1630.
- For 12:00 a.m. to 12:59 a.m., use 00 as the hour. For example, 12:15 a.m. becomes 0015.
Who Uses Military Time?
Military time is most closely associated with the armed forces, but many other careers use it as well. Civilian pilots, law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, hospitals, and healthcare workers often use the 24-hour clock to avoid mistakes.
Students preparing for the ASVAB, nursing exams, EMT training, or healthcare programs may also need to understand military time.
Military Time Practice Questions
Try these quick military time practice questions. Click each question to check your answer.
1. What is 1400 in standard time?
1400 is 2:00 p.m.
2. What is 1630 in standard time?
1630 is 4:30 p.m.
3. What is 1845 in standard time?
1845 is 6:45 p.m.
4. What is 8:00 a.m. in military time?
8:00 a.m. is 0800.
5. What is 9:30 p.m. in military time?
9:30 p.m. is 2130.
6. What is midnight in military time?
Midnight is usually written as 0000.
ASVAB and Test Prep Resources
If you are studying for the ASVAB, you may also find these resources helpful:
Military Time FAQ
What is military time?
Military time is a 24-hour time format that begins at 0000 and ends at 2359. It does not use a.m. or p.m.
What is 1300 military time?
1300 military time is 1:00 p.m.
What is 1400 military time?
1400 military time is 2:00 p.m.
What is 1500 military time?
1500 military time is 3:00 p.m.
What is 1630 military time?
1630 military time is 4:30 p.m.
What is 0000 military time?
0000 military time is 12:00 a.m., or midnight.
Is midnight 0000 or 2400?
Midnight is usually written as 0000. The time 2400 may sometimes be used to show the end of a day, but 0000 is more common for the start of a new day.
How do you say military time out loud?
Military time is often spoken as a four-digit number followed by “hours.” For example, 0800 may be said as “zero eight hundred hours,” and 1545 may be said as “fifteen forty-five hours.”
