What This Tool Does
This converter handles two common time tasks in one place. First, it converts military time (the 24-hour clock written as four digits, like 1430) to and from regular 12-hour time with AM/PM. Second, it converts ordinary clock minutes into payroll decimal minutes - the fraction of an hour used on timesheets and in payroll software.
How to Use It
For time conversion, pick a direction. Choosing "Military to Regular" lets you type a four-digit military time such as 0700 or 2400. Choosing "Regular to Military" lets you enter an hour (1-12), minutes, and AM or PM. The payroll section is independent: enter any minute value from 0 to 59 to see its decimal equivalent.
The Formula Explained
Minutes are identical in both time systems - only the hour and the AM/PM label change. To go from military to regular, take the first two digits as the hour. If that hour is under 12 it is AM; otherwise it is PM. The displayed hour is the military hour modulo 12, shown as 12 when the result is 0:
$$\text{regularHour} = (\lfloor HHMM/100 \rfloor \bmod 12)$$Going the other way, AM hours stay the same (except 12 AM, which becomes 00), and PM hours add 12 (except 12 PM, which stays 12). For payroll, the decimal is simply minutes divided by 60:
$$\text{Decimal Minutes} = \frac{\text{Clock Minutes}}{60}$$
Worked Example
Take military time 1430. The hour is 14, the minutes are 30. Since 14 is greater than or equal to 12 it is PM, and \(14 \bmod 12 = 2\), so the regular time is 2:30 pm. For payroll, 15 minutes divided by 60 equals 0.25:
$$\frac{15}{60} = 0.25$$so 15 minutes is 0.25 of an hour.
FAQ
Is 1200 noon or midnight? 1200 is noon (12:00 pm). Midnight is 0000 (and sometimes 2400 to mark the end of a day).
Why does my timesheet use 0.25 instead of 15 minutes? Payroll systems track time as decimal fractions of an hour so wages multiply cleanly. 15 minutes is a quarter hour, hence 0.25.
Do minutes change between military and regular time? No. The minutes are always the same; only the hour representation and AM/PM designation differ.
