s to h Conversion Calculator
Click on the following link if you want to convert hours to seconds – h to s
History
The measurement of time has existed for thousands of years, long before modern clocks. The hour, minute, and second all originated in ancient Babylon, where the number system was based on 60. That’s why there are 60 seconds in a minute and 60 minutes in an hour.
Today, the second (s) is the base SI unit of time. It’s defined scientifically as the duration of 9,192,631,770 vibrations of a cesium atom — but in everyday life, it’s simply one tick of a second on your watch.
The hour (h) remains a practical, larger unit used daily for schedules, travel, work, and timekeeping.
Common Usage
- Seconds (s) measure short durations, such as reaction times, race finishes, or countdowns.
- Hours (h) measure longer periods, like travel time, work shifts, or the length of a movie.
For example, a two-hour movie lasts 7,200 seconds.
Seconds to Hours Conversion Formula
There are 3,600 seconds in one hour, since each hour has 60 minutes and each minute has 60 seconds.
1 hour = 3,600 seconds
Therefore, seconds to hours:
h = s ÷ 3,600
Example:
Convert 7,200 seconds to hours.
7,200 ÷ 3,600 = 2 hours
So, 7,200 seconds equal exactly 2 hours.
Conversion Table
| Seconds (s) | Hours (h) |
|---|---|
| 60 s | 0.0167 h |
| 600 s | 0.1667 h |
| 1,800 s | 0.5 h |
| 3,600 s | 1 h |
| 7,200 s | 2 h |
| 10,800 s | 3 h |
| 18,000 s | 5 h |
| 36,000 s | 10 h |
| 54,000 s | 15 h |
| 72,000 s | 20 h |
Fun Facts
- There are 86,400 seconds in a full day (24 hours).
- The world record for holding one’s breath underwater is over 11 minutes, or about 660 seconds.
- A commercial jet flying for 5 hours spends roughly 18,000 seconds in the air.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many seconds are in one hour?
3,600 seconds.
2. How do I convert seconds to hours quickly?
Divide the number of seconds by 3,600.
3. How many hours are in one day?
There are 24 hours in one day, or 86,400 seconds.
4. Why are hours divided into 60 minutes and not 100?
Because the Babylonian number system was based on 60, not 10.
5. What’s the symbol for seconds and hours?
Seconds: s; Hours: h.
