Time Unit Converter

Instant conversion between seconds, minutes, hours, and more

The Time Unit Converter is a free online tool that allows you to instantly convert between major time units such as seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years, and even milliseconds, microseconds, and nanoseconds. Useful for programming timers, project scheduling, scientific calculations, fitness tracking, and understanding time measurements - from everyday use to professional applications. All calculations are performed in your browser and no data is stored. We provide high-precision conversions based on accurate conversion formulas.

How to Use - Easy Conversion in 3 Steps

Using the Time Unit Converter is very simple:

Step 1: Select time value and source unit
Enter the time value you want to convert and select the source unit (seconds, minutes, hours, days, etc.) from the dropdown menu.
Step 2: Select target unit
Select the target unit (seconds, minutes, hours, days, etc.) from the dropdown menu.
Step 3: View the result
The conversion result appears instantly as you type. You can also use the swap button to reverse the source and target units.

Input data is not stored on the server. All calculations are performed in your browser and your privacy is completely protected.

Enter time to convert

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Practical Examples of Time Unit Converter

Time unit conversion is used in a wide range of scenarios, from everyday life to specialized fields:

Programming and Development

In software development, time measurements are crucial for performance optimization, timeout settings, and scheduling tasks. Converting milliseconds to seconds helps understand API response times. 'A 250ms response time' equals 0.25 seconds. Nanoseconds are used for high-precision benchmarking. Understanding time unit conversions is essential for setting proper cache durations, retry intervals, and animation timings.

Project Management and Planning

Project managers need to convert between different time scales. Converting hours to days helps in resource allocation: '160 hours of work' equals 20 working days (8 hours per day). Converting weeks to months aids in milestone planning. 'A 12-week project' is approximately 3 months. Understanding these conversions helps create realistic timelines and communicate schedules effectively across teams.

Scientific Calculations and Research

Scientific experiments require precise time measurements. Converting between microseconds and milliseconds is common in physics experiments. 'A 500μs pulse' equals 0.5ms. In chemistry, reaction times might be measured in milliseconds. In astronomy, light-year calculations involve converting years to seconds. High-precision time conversion is essential for accurate scientific documentation and reproducible experiments.

Fitness and Sports Tracking

Athletes and fitness enthusiasts track workout durations and performance times. Converting seconds to minutes helps understand race times: 'A 450-second 5K run' equals 7 minutes 30 seconds. Marathon times are often compared across hours and minutes. 'A 3.5-hour marathon' equals 210 minutes. Personal trainers use time conversions for interval training, rest periods, and workout planning.

Cooking and Baking

Recipes from different countries may use different time units. Converting minutes to hours helps with slow-cooking recipes: '300 minutes of slow cooking' equals 5 hours. Precision baking might require second-level timing: 'Boil for 90 seconds' for perfect soft-boiled eggs. Understanding time conversions ensures recipes are followed correctly regardless of the original unit used.

Education and Time Management

Students learn about time units in mathematics and science classes. Understanding that '1 hour = 60 minutes = 3,600 seconds' builds fundamental mathematical skills. Time management apps help students allocate study time: '25-minute Pomodoro sessions' with '5-minute breaks'. Converting between units helps students understand time spent on different activities and plan their schedules efficiently.

International Time Coordination

Global teams coordinate across time zones and need to convert time durations for meetings and deadlines. While time zones are separate, duration conversions matter: 'A 90-minute webinar' equals 1.5 hours. International shipping times might be expressed in days or weeks: '14 days delivery' equals 2 weeks. Understanding time unit relationships helps coordinate international projects and communications.

What are Time Units? Main Units and Conversion Methods

Time is a fundamental physical quantity that measures the duration between events. Different time units are used depending on the context, from nanoseconds in computing to centuries in historical contexts. Accurate conversion between these units is essential for scientific, technical, and everyday applications.

Basic Time Units

The fundamental units of time used in daily life and most applications.

Second (sec / s)

The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI). Originally defined as 1/86,400 of a day, now defined by atomic clock standards. 1 minute = 60 seconds. The second is the foundation for all other time measurements and is used in scientific calculations, sports timing, and everyday measurements.

Minute (min)

A unit of time equal to 60 seconds. 1 hour = 60 minutes, so 1 minute = 1/60 hour. Minutes are commonly used for short durations, meeting times, cooking instructions, and exercise routines. 'A 30-minute workout' or 'a 5-minute break' are typical expressions.

Hour (hour / h / hr)

A unit of time equal to 60 minutes or 3,600 seconds. 1 day = 24 hours. Hours are used for work schedules, travel times, and daily planning. 'An 8-hour workday' or 'a 2-hour movie' are common references. Time of day is expressed in hours: '3:00 PM' means 15 hours after midnight.

Day (day / d)

A unit of time equal to 24 hours, 1,440 minutes, or 86,400 seconds. Based on Earth's rotation period. Days are used for calendars, project durations, and age calculations. 'A 7-day week' or 'a 30-day month' are standard time periods. In project management, 'working days' exclude weekends.

Large Time Units

Units used for longer durations and planning.

Week (week / wk)

A unit of time equal to 7 days, 168 hours, or 10,080 minutes. The seven-day week is a cultural and religious convention used worldwide. 'A 2-week vacation' equals 14 days. Project sprints are often measured in weeks. 'A 4-week project' provides a clear planning timeframe.

Month (month / mo)

A calendar unit varying from 28 to 31 days. For calculations, 1 month is often approximated as 30 days (720 hours) or 30.44 days (average). Months are used for billing cycles, subscriptions, and medium-term planning. 'A 6-month contract' or 'monthly reports' are common business terms.

Year (year / yr / y)

A unit of time equal to approximately 365.25 days, 8,760 hours, or 31,536,000 seconds. A standard year has 365 days; leap years have 366 days. Years are used for age, long-term planning, historical timelines, and financial projections. 'A 5-year plan' or 'annual reports' are standard references.

Decade

A period of 10 years. Used in historical contexts and long-term trend analysis. 'The 2020s decade' or 'over the past decade' are common expressions. In planning, decades represent major generational changes and long-term strategic periods.

Century

A period of 100 years. Used primarily in historical and archaeological contexts. 'The 21st century' began in 2001. Centuries help organize human history into manageable periods. 'Medieval centuries' or 'the turn of the century' are historical references.

Small Time Units (Computing and Science)

High-precision units used in technology, computing, and scientific measurements.

Millisecond (ms)

One thousandth of a second (1ms = 0.001s). 1 second = 1,000 milliseconds. Used in computing for measuring response times, animation frame rates, and network latency. 'A 50ms ping time' indicates good network performance. Human reaction time is typically 200-300ms.

Microsecond (μs)

One millionth of a second (1μs = 0.000001s). 1 millisecond = 1,000 microseconds. Used in electronics, high-speed photography, and precision timing. CPU instruction cycles are measured in nanoseconds to microseconds. 'A 10μs exposure' in photography captures very fast motion.

Nanosecond (ns)

One billionth of a second (1ns = 0.000000001s). 1 microsecond = 1,000 nanoseconds. Used in computing hardware, GPS systems, and physics. Light travels approximately 30 cm in 1 nanosecond. Modern CPUs perform operations in nanosecond timeframes. GPS timing requires nanosecond precision.

Special Time Units

Swatch Beat (.beat)

A decimal time unit introduced by Swatch. 1 day = 1,000 beats, so 1 beat = 86.4 seconds (1 minute 26.4 seconds). Beats are timezone-free, based on Biel Mean Time (BMT). Used in internet culture and some online communities. '@500 .beat' represents the middle of the day.

Koku (刻)

A traditional Japanese time unit. 1 koku = 15 minutes (900 seconds). Derived from the historical practice of dividing the day into 100 equal parts (koku). While not commonly used in modern Japan, it appears in historical documents and traditional contexts. 4 koku = 1 hour.

Benefits of the Time Unit Converter

Accurate conversion to prevent calculation errors

Time unit conversion involves specific ratios like 1 hour = 3,600 seconds or 1 week = 10,080 minutes. Manual calculations can lead to errors, especially with milliseconds, microseconds, and nanoseconds. This tool uses precise conversion formulas and calculates accurately to many decimal places, ensuring reliable results for programming, scientific work, and project planning.

Instant conversion for increased work efficiency

No need to use a calculator to compute complex conversion ratios. Just enter the time value and select the units, and you'll see the result in real time. When programming timeouts, planning project schedules, or analyzing performance metrics, rapid conversion significantly improves work efficiency and reduces time spent on manual calculations.

Supports diverse time units

Supports all major time units from nanoseconds to centuries, including seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years, milliseconds, microseconds, and special units like Swatch Beats and Koku. Whether you're working on software development, scientific research, or everyday planning, this tool handles your conversion needs.

Free and always available anywhere

With an internet connection, accessible from any device - computer, smartphone, or tablet. No app installation or user registration required and completely free. You can convert time units instantly anywhere, during coding sessions, meetings, or on the go. Perfect for quick calculations and professional work alike.

Safe without data storage

All calculations are performed in the browser and input time data or conversion results are not sent or stored on the server. Can be used safely even with sensitive project timelines or proprietary performance data. Your privacy is completely protected, and you maintain full control over your information.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How many seconds are in 1 hour?

1 hour = exactly 3,600 seconds. This is calculated as 60 minutes × 60 seconds = 3,600 seconds. Conversely, 1 second = 1/3,600 hour ≈ 0.000278 hours. In minutes, 1 hour = 60 minutes. This basic conversion is fundamental for many time calculations in programming, science, and everyday applications.

How many hours are in 1 day?

1 day = exactly 24 hours = 1,440 minutes = 86,400 seconds. This is based on Earth's rotation period. For project planning, 'working days' typically mean 8 hours, so 1 working day = 8 hours. In programming, 86,400 seconds per day is commonly used for timestamp calculations and date arithmetic.

How do I convert milliseconds to seconds?

1 second = 1,000 milliseconds, so divide milliseconds by 1,000. Formula: seconds = milliseconds ÷ 1,000. For example, 2,500ms = 2.5 seconds. In programming, setTimeout(function, 1000) waits 1 second. Network latency of 50ms equals 0.05 seconds. This conversion is essential for understanding performance metrics and timing in software development.

What is the difference between microseconds and nanoseconds?

1 microsecond (μs) = 1,000 nanoseconds (ns). A microsecond is one millionth of a second (0.000001s), while a nanosecond is one billionth of a second (0.000000001s). Microseconds are used in electronics and precision timing, while nanoseconds are used in high-speed computing and physics. Modern CPUs perform operations in nanoseconds. GPS requires nanosecond accuracy.

How many days are in a year?

A standard year has 365 days, while a leap year has 366 days. For calculations, 1 year is often taken as 365.25 days (accounting for leap years), which equals 8,760 hours or 525,600 minutes or 31,536,000 seconds. Leap years occur every 4 years (divisible by 4) with exceptions for century years (must be divisible by 400). This is important for accurate long-term date calculations.

How do I calculate work hours from days?

For work calculations, 1 working day typically equals 8 hours (standard workday). So 5 working days = 40 hours (standard workweek). If a project requires '80 hours of work', that equals 10 working days. However, calendar days contain 24 hours, so distinguish between 'working hours' and 'calendar hours' when planning projects and calculating resource allocation.

What is a Swatch Beat and how is it calculated?

A Swatch Beat (.beat) is a decimal time unit where 1 day = 1,000 beats. Therefore, 1 beat = 86.4 seconds = 1 minute 26.4 seconds. Beats are timezone-free, based on Biel Mean Time (BMT/UTC+1). '@000 .beat' is midnight BMT, '@500 .beat' is noon BMT. To convert: beats = (seconds since midnight UTC+1) ÷ 86.4. This system was introduced by Swatch in 1998 as an alternative time standard.

Does this tool account for leap seconds and leap years?

This tool uses standard conversion ratios for unit conversions (1 year = 365.25 days on average, 1 day = 86,400 seconds). It does not automatically adjust for specific leap seconds (which are added occasionally to UTC) or determine specific leap years. For precise calendar calculations involving specific dates, use a dedicated date calculator. This tool is designed for duration conversions rather than calendar date arithmetic.