Quick answer: 1700 military time is 5:00 PM in regular time.
If you see 1700 on a schedule or a time sheet, it means five o’clock in the evening. Nothing complicated about it.
Here’s how the math works and when you’ll actually see this time pop up in real life.
How to Convert 1700 to Regular Time
For any military time after 1200, subtract 12 from the hour. That’s the whole trick.
17 minus 12 = 5
So 1700 is 5:00 PM.
This same formula works for every PM time. 1300 is 1 PM. 1800 is 6 PM. 2200 is 10 PM. Just subtract 12 and you’re done.
What About Minutes?
The minutes stay exactly the same. Only the hour changes.
1730 is 5:30 PM. 1715 is 5:15 PM. 1745 is 5:45 PM.
Convert the hour and the minutes tag along.
How to Say 1700 Out Loud
The most common way is “seventeen hundred.” That’s what you’ll hear in everyday use at hospitals, military bases, and fire stations.
You can also say “seventeen hundred hours” if you want to be more formal.
If there are minutes, just read them naturally. 1730 is “seventeen thirty.” 1745 is “seventeen forty five.”
When Would You Actually See 1700?
1700 shows up a lot because 5:00 PM is when a big chunk of the working world clocks out.
End of the workday. Government offices and military installations often list their hours as 0800 to 1700. That’s 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Nursing shift changes. Many hospitals have shift changes at 1700. The day shift wraps up and the evening crew takes over. This is one of the busiest times in a hospital, and using military time makes sure everyone is on the same page.
Airline schedules. A 1700 departure means your plane is leaving at 5:00 PM. International airports almost always use 24 hour time on their departure boards.
Dinner reservations. In Europe and many other parts of the world, a restaurant booking at 1700 means 5:00 PM. The 24 hour clock is standard in most countries outside the US.
Quick Reference: Times Around 1700
| Military Time | Regular Time |
|---|---|
| 1600 | 4:00 PM |
| 1700 | 5:00 PM |
| 1800 | 6:00 PM |
Going the Other Way: 5:00 PM to Military Time
To convert 5:00 PM to military time, add 12 to the hour.
5 plus 12 = 17
So 5:00 PM becomes 1700. And 5:30 PM becomes 1730.
This works for every PM time. Just add 12 and drop the PM.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 1700 AM or PM?
1700 is PM. It equals 5:00 PM in standard time.
How do you say 1700 in military time?
Say it as “seventeen hundred” or “seventeen hundred hours.”
How do you convert 5:00 PM to military time?
Add 12 to the hour. 5 plus 12 equals 17, so 5:00 PM becomes 1700.
Need to convert a different time? Check out the full military time chart or use our instant converter to look up any time in seconds.
