Time Conversion Complete Guide: Seconds, Minutes, Hours, Days & More

Time conversions are fundamental for everyday life, from scheduling and planning to scientific calculations and business operations. Understanding how to convert between seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years is essential for accurate time management and calculations.

Quick Answer: Use our unit converter for instant, accurate conversions. We support all major measurement types including length, weight, volume, temperature, and more.

This comprehensive guide covers all time conversions you'll need, with practical examples and conversion tables.

Understanding Time Units

Seconds (s)

Seconds is the base SI unit for time, used for:

• Precise measurements
• Scientific calculations
• Short durations
• Digital timers

Common Uses:

• Reaction times: 0.1-0.5 seconds
• Short activities: 1-60 seconds
• Minute divisions: 60 seconds = 1 minute

Convert seconds with our time converter.

Minutes (min)

Minutes are commonly used for:

• Everyday timekeeping
• Meeting durations
• Cooking times
• Exercise intervals

Common Uses:

• Short meetings: 15-30 minutes
• Cooking: 5-60 minutes
• Exercise: 10-60 minutes
• Commute: 15-60 minutes

Convert minutes with our time converter.

Hours (h)

Hours are the standard unit for:

• Work schedules
• Long activities
• Travel time
• Business operations

Common Uses:

• Work day: 8 hours
• Sleep: 7-9 hours
• Flight duration: 1-15 hours
• Movie length: 1.5-3 hours

Convert hours with our time converter.

Days (d)

Days are used for:

• Calendar planning
• Project timelines
• Vacation duration
• Business cycles

Common Uses:

• Week: 7 days
• Work week: 5 days
• Month: 28-31 days
• Year: 365 days (366 in leap year)

Convert days with our time converter.

Time Conversion Formulas

Seconds to Minutes

Formula: minutes = seconds ÷ 60

Common Conversions:

• 30 seconds = 0.5 minutes
• 60 seconds = 1 minute
• 90 seconds = 1.5 minutes
• 120 seconds = 2 minutes
• 300 seconds = 5 minutes

Convert seconds to minutes with our time converter.

Minutes to Hours

Formula: hours = minutes ÷ 60

Common Conversions:

• 15 minutes = 0.25 hours
• 30 minutes = 0.5 hours
• 45 minutes = 0.75 hours
• 60 minutes = 1 hour
• 90 minutes = 1.5 hours
• 120 minutes = 2 hours

Convert minutes to hours using our time converter.

Hours to Days

Formula: days = hours ÷ 24

Common Conversions:

• 12 hours = 0.5 days
• 24 hours = 1 day
• 48 hours = 2 days
• 72 hours = 3 days
• 168 hours = 7 days (1 week)

Convert hours to days with our time converter.

Days to Weeks

Formula: weeks = days ÷ 7

Common Conversions:

• 7 days = 1 week
• 14 days = 2 weeks
• 21 days = 3 weeks
• 30 days ≈ 4.29 weeks
• 365 days ≈ 52.14 weeks

Use our time converter for week conversions.

Time Conversion Tables

Common Time Conversions

Seconds	Minutes	Hours	Description
60	1	0.017	1 minute
300	5	0.083	5 minutes
600	10	0.167	10 minutes
900	15	0.25	15 minutes
1,800	30	0.5	30 minutes
3,600	60	1	1 hour
7,200	120	2	2 hours
86,400	1,440	24	1 day

Longer Time Periods

Days	Weeks	Months (approx)	Years (approx)
7	1	0.23	0.019
30	4.29	1	0.082
90	12.86	3	0.247
180	25.71	6	0.493
365	52.14	12	1
730	104.29	24	2

Convert any time period with our time converter.

Practical Time Conversion Examples

Example 1: Meeting Duration

Problem: Meeting scheduled for 90 minutes, need to know hours

Solution:

• 90 minutes ÷ 60 = 1.5 hours
• Use our time converter to verify

Example 2: Project Timeline

Problem: Project takes 5,040 hours, how many days?

Solution:

• 5,040 hours ÷ 24 = 210 days
• Or use our time converter

Example 3: Cooking Time

Problem: Recipe says 45 minutes, timer shows seconds

Solution:

• 45 minutes × 60 = 2,700 seconds
• Use our time converter for cooking conversions

Time Zones and Conversions

Understanding Time Zones

Key Concepts:

• UTC (Coordinated Universal Time): Standard reference
• Time zones: UTC ± hours (e.g., UTC-5, UTC+8)
• Daylight Saving Time: Adjusts by 1 hour

Common Time Zones:

• EST (Eastern): UTC-5
• PST (Pacific): UTC-8
• GMT (London): UTC+0
• CET (Central Europe): UTC+1
• JST (Japan): UTC+9

Note: Time zones are about clock time, not duration conversions. Use our time converter for duration calculations.

Business and Work Time

Work Hours Conversions

Standard Work Week:

• 40 hours/week = 8 hours/day × 5 days
• 2,080 hours/year (52 weeks × 40 hours)

Overtime Calculations:

• 1.5× rate: Multiply hours by 1.5
• Example: 45 hours = 40 regular + 5 overtime

Convert work hours with our time converter.

Business Cycles

Common Periods:

• Quarter: 3 months = 90-92 days
• Fiscal year: 12 months = 365 days
• Billing cycle: 30 days (monthly)

Use our time converter for business calculations.

Scientific Time Conversions

Very Small Time Units

Microseconds (μs):

• 1 microsecond = 0.000001 seconds
• Used in: Computer processing, scientific measurements

Nanoseconds (ns):

• 1 nanosecond = 0.000000001 seconds
• Used in: Electronics, physics

Picoseconds (ps):

• 1 picosecond = 0.000000000001 seconds
• Used in: Advanced physics

Very Large Time Units

Millennium:

• 1 millennium = 1,000 years
• 10 millennia = 10,000 years

Epochs:

• Geological epochs: Millions of years
• Astronomical periods: Billions of years

Age and Life Span Conversions

Human Age Equivalents

Age in Different Units:

• 1 year = 365 days = 8,760 hours = 525,600 minutes
• 10 years = 3,650 days = 87,600 hours
• 50 years = 18,250 days = 438,000 hours
• 100 years = 36,500 days = 876,000 hours

Convert ages with our time converter.

Life Expectancy

Global Average:

• 73 years = 26,645 days = 639,480 hours

By Region:

• High-income countries: 80+ years
• Low-income countries: 60-70 years

Sports and Fitness Time

Exercise Duration

Common Workouts:

• Quick workout: 15-30 minutes
• Standard workout: 45-60 minutes
• Long workout: 90-120 minutes

Training Sessions:

• Warm-up: 5-10 minutes
• Main workout: 30-60 minutes
• Cool-down: 5-10 minutes

Convert exercise time with our time converter.

Sports Timing

Common Durations:

• Soccer match: 90 minutes (2 × 45 min)
• Basketball: 48 minutes (4 × 12 min)
• Baseball: 2.5-3.5 hours
• Marathon: 2-6 hours

Travel Time Conversions

Flight Durations

Common Flights:

• Short haul: 1-3 hours
• Medium haul: 3-6 hours
• Long haul: 6-12 hours
• Ultra long haul: 12+ hours

Example: New York to London

• Duration: 7-8 hours = 420-480 minutes

Convert travel time with our time converter.

Driving Time

Common Trips:

• Commute: 15-60 minutes
• Day trip: 1-3 hours
• Road trip: 4-12 hours
• Cross-country: 2-4 days

Essential Time Conversion Tools

Use our comprehensive conversion tools:

• Time Converter - Seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years

Common Time Conversion Mistakes

Mistake 1: Month Length Confusion

Problem: Assuming all months = 30 days Solution: Months vary: 28-31 days (February: 28/29)

Prevention: Use specific month lengths or use our time converter for accurate conversions.

Mistake 2: Year Length

Problem: Assuming year = 365 days always Solution: Leap years = 366 days (every 4 years)

Prevention: Account for leap years in long-term calculations.

Mistake 3: Decimal Time Confusion

Problem: Converting 1.5 hours to 1 hour 50 minutes Solution: 1.5 hours = 1 hour 30 minutes (0.5 = 30 minutes)

Prevention: Use our time converter for decimal conversions.

Quick Reference Card

Essential Conversions:

• 60 seconds = 1 minute
• 60 minutes = 1 hour
• 24 hours = 1 day
• 7 days = 1 week
• 30 days ≈ 1 month (varies)
• 365 days = 1 year (366 in leap year)

Common Time Periods:

• Work day: 8 hours = 480 minutes
• Week: 7 days = 168 hours
• Month: 30 days = 720 hours (average)
• Year: 365 days = 8,760 hours

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between metric and imperial systems?

The metric system uses base-10 units (meters, kilograms, liters) and is used worldwide. The imperial system uses inches, pounds, and gallons, primarily used in the United States. Metric is easier to convert because everything is in multiples of 10.

How do I convert units quickly in my head?

Use approximations: for km to miles multiply by 0.6, for kg to lbs multiply by 2, for Celsius to Fahrenheit double and add 30. These give rough estimates that are usually close enough for everyday use.

Why do different countries use different measurement systems?

Historical reasons. The US adopted the British Imperial system before the metric system was widely adopted. Most countries switched to metric in the 20th century for international trade and scientific consistency.

Related Articles

You might also find these guides helpful:

• Metric vs Imperial: Complete Comparison Guide for 2025: Understand the differences between metric and imperial systems. Learn when to use each, conversion formulas, and practical examples for length, weight, volume, and temperature.

• Speed and Velocity Conversions: Complete Guide to MPH, KM/H, M/S & More: Master speed conversions between miles per hour, kilometers per hour, meters per second, knots, and Mach. Essential for driving, aviation, and physics.

• Temperature Conversion Master Guide: Celsius, Fahrenheit, Kelvin & More: Master temperature conversions with formulas, conversion tables, and practical examples. Learn Celsius, Fahrenheit, Kelvin conversions for cooking, science, and everyday use.

Your Next Steps

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Conclusion

Understanding time conversions is essential for scheduling, planning, and accurate calculations. Whether you're converting meeting durations, calculating project timelines, or working with scientific measurements, accurate time conversions ensure proper planning and execution.

Key Takeaways:

• Seconds to minutes: Divide by 60
• Minutes to hours: Divide by 60
• Hours to days: Divide by 24
• Days to weeks: Divide by 7
• Months: Vary from 28-31 days
• Years: 365 days (366 in leap years)

Use our time converter for accurate time conversions. Our converter handles seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years, ensuring precise conversions for all your time measurement needs!