We’ve all been there: trying to figure out what time it will be later for meetings, appointments, or just to set a reminder. A common question is: what time is 8 hours from now?
This article will walk you through exactly how to calculate that, and we’ll also cover the importance of understanding AM and PM when planning your day.
How to Calculate What Time It Will Be
The simplest way to figure out what time it will be 8 hours from now is to add 8 hours to the current time. If we use “T1” to represent the current time, and “T2” to represent the time 8 hours from now, the formula looks like this:
T2 = T1 + 8 hours
For example, if the current time (T1) is 1:00 PM, then T2 = 1:00 PM + 8 hours = 9:00 PM.
AM/PM Considerations
When calculating what time it will be eight hours from now, you need to remember the difference between AM and PM.
AM is short for ante meridiem, which is Latin for “before noon.” AM refers to all the hours between midnight and noon.
PM is short for post meridiem, which is Latin for “after noon.” PM refers to all the hours between noon and midnight.
Adding eight hours to the current time can easily cause the time to switch from AM to PM, or from PM to AM.
If adding eight hours to the current time results in a number greater than 12, you’ll need to subtract 12 from the result and switch from AM to PM or PM to AM.
For example, if it’s 8:00 PM right now, adding eight hours would get you to 4:00 AM the next day.
Using the 24-Hour Clock (Military Time)
The 24-hour clock, sometimes called military time, counts the hours in a day from 0000 to 2359. This system can make calculating time differences much simpler.
Because it doesn’t use AM or PM, you don’t have to worry about crossing over noon when adding hours.
For example, if it’s 14:00 (2:00 PM) now, adding 8 hours is easy. Just add 8 to 14, which gets you to 22:00. That’s 10:00 PM.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 7 AM to 3 PM 8 hours?
Yes, the time between 7 AM and 3 PM is exactly 8 hours. If you start counting at 7 AM and add 8 hours, you’ll arrive precisely at 3 PM the same day. This is a common workday duration, so many people are familiar with this time interval.
How to count 8 hours from a given time?
To count 8 hours from a specific time, you can simply add 8 to the hour. For example, if it’s 10 AM, adding 8 hours would take you to 6 PM. If the sum exceeds 12, subtract 12 to convert it to PM time. If your starting time is in the PM, adding 8 hours will take you to the AM of the next day, you’ll need to adjust the date accordingly.
What time zone is 8 hours ahead of [insert current timezone]?
The answer to this question depends on your current time zone and whether or not daylight savings time is in effect. For example, during Standard Time, the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is -5 hours from Eastern Standard Time (EST), meaning that UTC is 5 hours ahead of EST. That would make Eastern European Time (EET), which is UTC +2, seven hours ahead of EST. To definitively answer this question, you must accurately know your current timezone.
Final Thoughts
To figure out what time it will be eight hours from now, you add eight hours to the current time. Be sure to consider whether you’ll move from AM to PM or vice versa, or simply use a 24-hour clock to calculate. Accurate time calculations are essential for planning, so practice and check your work!