Which is better, the 24-hour clock, or the 12-hour am/pm clock?

Alena Shikova
52 replies
Guys, I need your help! Recently, I've come up with the question on the convenient time format (24-hour or 12-hour am/pm). I know this varies in different countries, but do most people understand each format? Which is more convenient and which one you would use in your day-t0-day apps? Thanks in advance for your answers!

Replies

Tobias Gray
I think 12 hour am/pm. You're much less likely to have someone complain about subtracting the 12 to convert it. While some people do that instinctively some do not however with 12 hour am/pm I would say most can read it at a glance despite some people potentially having a preference the other way.
Alena Shikova
@tobiasgray Sounds reasonable! Thank you!
Prateek Majumder
Both have merits and demerits. While a 12 hour clock might give you the perception of time better. For example, 8 PM sounds a better time for dinner than 2000 hours. But the 24 H clock is good for transportation sector where AM/PM might be a confusion.
Lilian Max
I prefer 24-hour clock.
Alena Shikova
@lilian_nyar_okus any reasons? Or this's just a matter of personal taste?)
Mohammad Shamsuddoha
I think its easy for me 12 hours am/pm
Nidal
Your question sounds too important to be answered based on what few people think (small sample size). I'd try to find if someone made a study about it. And then consider your target audiance. That said, the 12 hour clock usually takes less congintive effort for me to decypher, aside from rare occasions. The 24 one becomes more cryptic from 14:00 to 22:00.
Alena Shikova
@nidal_ghonaim thanks a lot for your explanation, and I totally agree that my question requires way more people to make a conclusion!
Ahmadullah Junaeid
I think 24-Hours Clock is more convenient. But I am Habituated with 12 hours clock. 😊
Jaskiran Kaur
I think 12 hour clock is much more convenient and anyone can read it easily.
Alena Shikova
@jaskiran_kaur yeah, it's really true that everyone understands it. So if setting up one of your apps, you would choose 12-hour clock, right?
runia_tanbin
My opinion is 12 hour clock as this is much more convenient and easy to read.
Manish Rawat
I prefer the 12-hour format simply because that is the format I have been using since I was a kid.
Manish Rawat
@alena_shikova ya I can. What about you which one do u prefer?
Alena Shikova
@manish_rawat1 can you live with 24-hour?
Md Raisul Islam
12 hour is best for me. That's my personal teste.
Aron Kornhall
I think we can all agree that we don't agree.
Natalie Karakina
24 hour clock ))))))))))))) I'm always confused about am/pm
Abdullah Al Numan
24 hour clock is international format. But, I think the easiest and useful format is 12 hour clock for one's local time
Tiyasa Das
I personally believe the 24 hour clock time is better, when someone asks you the time; you don’t need think AM or PM
Avi Chanda
Of course 24 hour-clock
Robert Brandon
24 hour clock, always aim for the universal format!
Alena Shikova
@robert_brandon yeah, but when we talk about product placement for a specific region, we need to tend to their convenience