Military Time Converter
Format
military
Quick Answer
Military time runs 0000–2359. After 1200 (noon), subtract 12 to get PM time. Before 1200, it's AM.
Example: 1500 = 3:00 PM · 0800 = 8:00 AM · 0000 = 12:00 AM (midnight)
How Military Time Works
Military time uses a 24-hour clock that runs from 0000 (midnight) through 2359 (11:59 PM). Unlike the 12-hour AM/PM system, military time eliminates ambiguity — "1500" can only mean 3:00 PM. The format uses four digits: the first two for hours (00–23) and the last two for minutes (00–59). No colon separator is used in formal military time notation.
Common Military Time Conversions
| Military | Standard | Common Use |
|---|---|---|
| 0000 | 12:00 AM | Midnight |
| 0600 | 6:00 AM | Morning shift start |
| 0800 | 8:00 AM | Workday start |
| 1200 | 12:00 PM | Noon |
| 1700 | 5:00 PM | Workday end |
| 2200 | 10:00 PM | Night shift start |
Military Time in Aviation — Zulu Time
In aviation, all flight plans, weather reports (METARs/TAFs), and air traffic communications use UTC, referred to as "Zulu time" (designated by the letter Z). When a pilot files a departure at "1430Z," every controller worldwide understands it as 2:30 PM UTC — no timezone conversion needed. The NATO phonetic alphabet assigns each of the 25 time zones a letter: Z for UTC, A for UTC+1, N for UTC−1, and so on through the alphabet. This system prevents the dangerous ambiguity that AM/PM or local times could introduce during international operations.
Military Time in Healthcare
Hospitals and pharmacies worldwide use the 24-hour clock on medical records, medication schedules, and surgical logs. The reason is patient safety: misreading "6:00" as either 6 AM or 6 PM could mean a medication dose is given 12 hours late or early. Electronic health records (EHR) systems default to 24-hour format precisely because it removes any AM/PM ambiguity. If a medication is charted at "0200," every nurse on every shift knows it means 2:00 AM without question.