Zulu time is military time written in Coordinated Universal Time, commonly called UTC. A Zulu time ends with the letter Z, such as 1700Z.
Zulu time is already written in military time format. The main task is converting that UTC time into the local time zone you need.
What Does Zulu Time Mean?
Zulu time is a common name for UTC. It provides one universal time reference for people and systems in different locations.
For example:
- 0800Z means 8:00 AM UTC.
- 1200Z means 12:00 PM UTC.
- 1700Z means 5:00 PM UTC.
- 2359Z means 11:59 PM UTC.
Is Zulu Time the Same as Military Time?
Zulu time uses the military 24-hour format, but it also identifies the time zone. The letter Z means the time is based on UTC.
For example, 1700 and 1700Z both use military time format. However, 1700Z specifically means 17:00 UTC.
How to Convert Zulu Time to Local Military Time
To convert Zulu time, apply the UTC offset for your location. A negative offset means subtract hours from Zulu time. A positive offset means add hours.
For example, when a location is UTC−5:
- 1700Z minus 5 hours = 1200 local military time.
- 2200Z minus 5 hours = 1700 local military time.
When a location is UTC−4 instead, subtract four hours. The exact offset can change depending on the location and the date.
Zulu Time Conversion Examples
| Zulu Time | UTC−5 Example | UTC−4 Example |
|---|---|---|
| 0500Z | 0000 | 0100 |
| 0800Z | 0300 | 0400 |
| 1200Z | 0700 | 0800 |
| 1700Z | 1200 | 1300 |
| 2000Z | 1500 | 1600 |
| 2300Z | 1800 | 1900 |
Zulu Time and US Time Zones
United States time zones can have different UTC offsets during standard time and daylight saving time. Because of this, use the UTC offset for the exact location and date instead of assuming one conversion always applies.
| Common US Time Zone | Typical Standard-Time Offset | Typical Daylight-Time Offset |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Time | UTC−5 | UTC−4 |
| Central Time | UTC−6 | UTC−5 |
| Mountain Time | UTC−7 | UTC−6 |
| Pacific Time | UTC−8 | UTC−7 |
| Alaska Time | UTC−9 | UTC−8 |
| Hawaii Time | UTC−10 | UTC−10 |
How Zulu Time Is Written
Zulu time is normally written as four digits followed by the letter Z.
- 0800Z = 8:00 AM UTC
- 1430Z = 2:30 PM UTC
- 1700Z = 5:00 PM UTC
- 2130Z = 9:30 PM UTC
The letter Z makes the UTC reference clear and prevents confusion when different locations need to coordinate the same event.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 1700Z in military time?
1700Z means 5:00 PM in Zulu time, or 5:00 PM UTC.
What does the Z mean after military time?
The letter Z means Zulu time, which is UTC.
Does Zulu time change for daylight saving time?
No. Zulu time remains UTC. Local time conversions can change when a location changes between standard time and daylight saving time.
How do I convert Zulu time to Eastern Time?
Subtract the current Eastern UTC offset from Zulu time. Eastern Time is typically UTC−5 during standard time and UTC−4 during daylight saving time.
View Military Time Now for live local and Zulu time.
Read the Military Time Zones guide.
Use the Military Time Converter for regular military time conversions.