Is 12 midnight AM or PM?
12 midnight is 12 AM (00:00 in 24-hour time).
Midnight is the start of a new day. On a 12-hour clock the hour after 11:59 PM is 12:00 AM, so 12 midnight is 12:00 AM, and 12:30 AM is half an hour after midnight, in the early morning.
| Time | 12-hour | 24-hour |
|---|---|---|
| One minute before midnight | 11:59 PM | 23:59 |
| Midnight | 12:00 AM | 00:00 |
| Half past midnight | 12:30 AM | 00:30 |
| One minute before noon | 11:59 AM | 11:59 |
| Noon | 12:00 PM | 12:00 |
| Half past noon | 12:30 PM | 12:30 |
Questions people ask
Is it AM or PM at 12 midnight?
12 AM. 12 midnight is written 12:00 AM on a 12-hour clock and 00:00 on a 24-hour clock.
Why do people get 12 midnight wrong?
Because 12 belongs to the half of the day that's just starting, not the one that's ending. Technically noon is neither "before" nor "after" midday, which is why many style guides write "12 noon" and "12 midnight" instead of 12 PM and 12 AM.
What time is noon?
12:00 PM (12:00), the middle of the day. See is noon AM or PM.
How do I avoid confusion?
Write "12 noon" or "12 midnight", or use 24-hour time: noon is 12:00 and midnight is 00:00. For deadlines, "11:59 PM" is clearer than "12 AM".
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