Back to Blog
Guide5 min read10 de janeiro de 2026

Hora militar (relógio de 24 horas) explicada

Aprenda a ler e converter o formato de 24 horas.

Military Time (24-Hour Clock) Explained

Military time uses the 24-hour clock format where the day runs from 0000 (midnight) to 2359 (11:59 PM). It eliminates AM/PM confusion and is used worldwide by military, aviation, medicine, and many countries.

Conversion chart

12-Hour24-Hour (Military)Spoken
12:00 AM0000"Zero hundred"
1:00 AM0100"Zero one hundred"
6:00 AM0600"Zero six hundred"
12:00 PM1200"Twelve hundred"
1:00 PM1300"Thirteen hundred"
5:00 PM1700"Seventeen hundred"
9:00 PM2100"Twenty-one hundred"
11:59 PM2359"Twenty-three fifty-nine"

How to convert

12-hour to 24-hour:

AM hours (1-11) → add leading zero: 9:30 AM = 0930
12:00 PM → 1200
PM hours (1-11) → add 12: 3:45 PM = 1545

24-hour to 12-hour:

0000-1159 → AM (remove leading zero if needed)
1200 → 12:00 PM
1300-2359 → subtract 12, add PM: 1730 = 5:30 PM

Why the military uses 24-hour time

1No ambiguity: 0800 can only mean 8 AM, not 8 PM
2Critical operations: In combat, mistaking AM for PM can be life-threatening
3Global coordination: With personnel across all time zones, a uniform system is essential
4International standard: NATO, aviation (ICAO), and shipping all use 24-hour time

Countries that commonly use 24-hour time

Most of the world uses 24-hour time in daily life:

All of Europe
Most of Asia
Latin America
Africa

The 12-hour format is primarily used in:

United States
Canada (alongside 24-hour)
Australia (alongside 24-hour)
Philippines

Toggle between formats using our time format switch on any [city page](/city/new-york).

All articles
WorldTime Blog