Time Converter
All Conversions
Quick Reference
Related Tools
Understanding Time Units
Common Time Units
Second (s)
The SI base unit of time. Originally defined as 1/86,400 of a day, now defined by cesium atom oscillations for precision.
Minute (min)
Equal to 60 seconds. Common unit for measuring short to medium durations in everyday life.
Hour (hr)
Equal to 60 minutes or 3,600 seconds. Standard unit for work time, travel, and scheduling.
Day
Equal to 24 hours. Based on Earth's rotation. A solar day varies slightly throughout the year.
Longer Time Periods
Week
7 days or 168 hours. Originated from religious traditions and became a global standard for organizing time.
Month
28-31 days depending on the month. Based on lunar cycles. Average month is about 30.44 days.
Year
About 365.25 days. Based on Earth's orbit around the Sun. Leap years account for the extra 0.25 days.
Decade/Century
Decade = 10 years, Century = 100 years. Used for historical periods and long-term planning.
Small Time Units
| Unit | Value in Seconds | Common Use |
|---|---|---|
| Millisecond (ms) | 0.001 | Computer response times |
| Microsecond (μs) | 0.000001 | Electronics, photography |
| Nanosecond (ns) | 0.000000001 | CPU cycles, light travel |
Time Conversion Reference
| From | To | Conversion |
|---|---|---|
| Minutes | Hours | ÷ 60 |
| Hours | Days | ÷ 24 |
| Days | Weeks | ÷ 7 |
| Weeks | Years | ÷ 52.1775 |
| Seconds | Days | ÷ 86,400 |
Why 60 Seconds in a Minute?
The 60-based system (sexagesimal) comes from ancient Babylon around 3000 BCE. They chose 60 because it's highly divisible - it can be evenly divided by 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20, and 30, making calculations easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many seconds are in a day?
There are exactly 86,400 seconds in a day. The calculation is: 24 hours × 60 minutes × 60 seconds = 86,400 seconds. A week has 604,800 seconds, and a year has about 31,536,000 seconds (or 31,557,600 including the leap year quarter-day).
How do I convert hours to decimal days?
Divide hours by 24 to get decimal days. For example, 36 hours ÷ 24 = 1.5 days. To convert back, multiply days by 24. For minutes to days, divide by 1,440 (24 × 60). For seconds to days, divide by 86,400.
Why are there 60 seconds in a minute?
The 60-based system (sexagesimal) originated in ancient Babylon around 3000 BCE. They chose 60 because it's highly divisible—it can be evenly divided by 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 15, 20, and 30, making calculations and fraction work much easier.
How many weeks are in a year?
There are approximately 52.1786 weeks in a year. A common year (365 days) has 52 weeks plus 1 day. A leap year (366 days) has 52 weeks plus 2 days. For precise calculations, use 365.25 days ÷ 7 = 52.1786 weeks.