How to Read Military Time
The 24-hour clock numbers hours from 00 to 23. Midnight is 00:00, noon is 12:00, and 1PM is 13:00. Four-digit notation removes the colon: 08:30 becomes 0830.
Open the military-time converterConvert AM/PM to 24-hour time
For AM, keep hours 1–11 and turn 12AM into 00. For PM, add 12 to hours 1–11; 12PM stays 12. Minutes do not change. Thus 8:30PM becomes 20:30, while 8:30AM becomes 08:30.
| AM/PM | 24-hour clock | Four digits |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 AM | 00:00 | 0000 |
| 8:30 AM | 08:30 | 0830 |
| 12:00 PM | 12:00 | 1200 |
| 1:00 PM | 13:00 | 1300 |
| 8:30 PM | 20:30 | 2030 |
| 11:45 PM | 23:45 | 2345 |
Convert back without mixing up noon and midnight
00:00 is 12:00AM. Hours 01–11 are AM. Hour 12 is PM; subtract 12 from hours 13–23 and use PM. Therefore 23:45 becomes 11:45PM.
The converter accepts valid clock values from 00:00 through 23:59, including four-digit notation such as 2345. It uses 00:00 for midnight; do not enter 24:00 or 2360. It converts notation, not timezones.
A clock time is not a decimal duration
13:30 is 1:30PM, not a request for 13.30 payroll hours. A duration of 13 hours 30 minutes is 13.50 decimal hours. Use the decimal-hours calculator for durations and the 24-hour time card to total work between clock times.
Use the right tool for the next step
- Select the conversion direction and enter either a time with AM/PM or a valid 24-hour clock value.
- Read the converted clock time; leading zeros make morning values unambiguous.
- For work across midnight, enter the start/end in the time card and read the overnight guide.
- Check the date separately whenever midnight could mean the start of one day or the end of the previous day.