Learning how to read military time is easier than it looks. Military time uses a 24-hour clock instead of repeating AM and PM hours. It starts at 0000 for midnight and ends at 2359 just before the next midnight.
This guide explains how military time works, how to convert it to standard time, and how to read common examples such as 0800, 1200, 1700, and 2130.
What Is Military Time?
Military time is a way of writing time using a 24-hour clock. Instead of using AM and PM, each hour has one number from 0000 through 2359.
For example, 8:00 AM is written as 0800, while 8:00 PM is written as 2000. Military time is commonly used in the military, aviation, healthcare, emergency services, logistics, and other situations where clear communication matters.
How to Read Military Time?
Military time usually has four digits. The first two digits show the hour, and the last two digits show the minutes.
| Military Time | Hour | Minutes | Standard Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0800 | 08 | 00 | 8:00 AM |
| 0930 | 09 | 30 | 9:30 AM |
| 1200 | 12 | 00 | 12:00 PM |
| 1430 | 14 | 30 | 2:30 PM |
| 1700 | 17 | 00 | 5:00 PM |
| 2130 | 21 | 30 | 9:30 PM |
Military Time From 0000 to 1159
For military times from 0000 through 1159, the time is in the morning. In most cases, you can read the first two digits as the hour and keep the same number in standard time.
- 0000 = 12:00 AM
- 0100 = 1:00 AM
- 0730 = 7:30 AM
- 0800 = 8:00 AM
- 0945 = 9:45 AM
- 1100 = 11:00 AM
The main exception is 0000, which means midnight, and 1200, which means noon.
Military Time From 1200 to 2359
For military times after 1200, subtract 12 from the first two digits to find the standard PM hour.
For example, to convert 1700 military time:
- Start with 17.
- Subtract 12.
- 17 minus 12 equals 5.
- 1700 military time equals 5:00 PM.
| Military Time | Calculation | Standard Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1300 | 13 − 12 = 1 | 1:00 PM |
| 1400 | 14 − 12 = 2 | 2:00 PM |
| 1500 | 15 − 12 = 3 | 3:00 PM |
| 1700 | 17 − 12 = 5 | 5:00 PM |
| 1830 | 18 − 12 = 6 | 6:30 PM |
| 2100 | 21 − 12 = 9 | 9:00 PM |
| 2300 | 23 − 12 = 11 | 11:00 PM |
How to Say Military Time Out Loud?
Military time is often spoken by saying each hour as a number followed by “hundred hours.” When minutes are included, say the hour first and then the minutes.
- 0800 is often said as “zero eight hundred hours.”
- 1200 is often said as “twelve hundred hours.”
- 1700 is often said as “seventeen hundred hours.”
- 1830 is often said as “eighteen thirty hours.”
- 2130 is often said as “twenty-one thirty hours.”
Easy Military Time Conversion Examples
| Military Time | Standard Time |
|---|---|
| 0000 | 12:00 AM |
| 0600 | 6:00 AM |
| 0800 | 8:00 AM |
| 1000 | 10:00 AM |
| 1200 | 12:00 PM |
| 1300 | 1:00 PM |
| 1500 | 3:00 PM |
| 1700 | 5:00 PM |
| 1800 | 6:00 PM |
| 2000 | 8:00 PM |
| 2200 | 10:00 PM |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 1700 military time?
1700 military time is 5:00 PM in standard time.
What is 1200 military time?
1200 military time is 12:00 PM, which is noon.
What is 0000 military time?
0000 military time is 12:00 AM, which is midnight.
Is military time the same as 24-hour time?
Military time uses the 24-hour clock. It is commonly written without a colon, such as 1700, while standard 24-hour time is often written with a colon, such as 17:00.
How do I quickly convert military time?
For times after 1200, subtract 12 from the first two digits. For example, 1800 becomes 6:00 PM because 18 minus 12 equals 6.
Use the Military Time Converter to convert any time instantly.
View the full Military Time Chart for a complete 24-hour reference.