How to Convert Time to Military Time Format in Google Sheets?

Google Sheets offers a convenient built-in tool that simplifies the process of converting between 12-hour time and military time (also known as 24-hour time). In this guide, we’ll explore how to use this tool to convert time formats in Google Sheets.

Converting to Military Time in Google Sheets

To convert existing time values in Google Sheets to military time, follow these steps:

1. Select the cells containing the time values you want to convert. For example, you can choose cells A2 through A6 that store time values in the 12-hour format (with hours, minutes, seconds, and AM/PM).

2. Access the time formatting tool by clicking on “Format” in the header menu. From the drop-down menu, select “Number,” then scroll over to “More Formats,” and click on “More date and time formats.”

3. Scroll down the pop-up menu and look for the 24-hour formats. For instance, if we use the example time “1:30:30 PM,” the corresponding military time formats would be “13:30:30” for hours, minutes, and seconds, “13:30” for hours and minutes, and “8/5 13:30” for the military date format (month/day hours/minutes). Let’s choose “13:30:30” in this case.

4. (Optional) If you prefer single-digit hours to have a leading zero, select the “hour” dropdown and choose “Hour with leading zero (01).”

5. Click “Apply” to save your formatting settings.

6. Your spreadsheet will now display time values formatted in military time.

Common 24-Hour/Military Time Formats

Although the 24-hour clock is commonly known as “military time,” it is used not only by militaries but also in various countries for both 12-hour and 24-hour formats. Here are some commonly used military time formats:

• H:MM – 13:30 and Hour (1) – 1:00
• HH:MM – 13:30 and Hour (01) – 01:00
• H:MM:SS – 13:30:30 and Hour (1) – 1:00:00
• HH:MM:SS – 13:30:30 and Hour (01) – 01:00:00

That’s it! Now you know how to use Google Sheets’ built-in time formatting tool and configure it to convert 12-hour time values into military time values. I hope you found this tutorial helpful!

Related reading: How to Add Days to Date in Google Sheets