How long until 4 PM?

Why a clock time countdown is different

Dates arrive once, while 4 PM returns each day. That is why this page ticks by the second and not by the day.

A fixed clock time like 4 PM is one of the most common things people look up. It turns up in school timetables, travel plans, medication schedules and live events. A live count removes the need to do the sum yourself.

Each visit finds the nearest 4 PM ahead of you. If today's has gone, tomorrow's is used.

Counting seconds to 4 PM sounds extreme, but it is handy for launches, gates and exams that start on the dot. The tile shows the exact figure and keeps counting until the moment arrives.

Watch the bar for a quick sense of timing. It is empty straight after 4 PM and nearly full just before the next.

The count has a fixed rhythm. It starts near 24 hours the moment 4 PM passes, then falls second by second. When it reaches zero the cycle begins once more.

Working across time zones

The same clock reading is a different moment in each city. When it is 4 PM in one place, it is another time of day elsewhere.

A call at 4 PM might suit one city and not another. The table helps you choose a time that works across the group.

Clock changes move the gaps between cities. The US and Europe switch on different dates, so 4 PM can shift for a few weeks.

We read your zone from the browser. That keeps the count tied to the clock on your wall. The picker lets you swap to another city when you need to.

Using the countdown

A day has 24 hours, and 4 PM is one point on that clock. The bar and tiles show how long is left, so you can judge whether one more task fits.

From a school bell to a shift change, 4 PM matters to a lot of people. The count gives the answer in a moment.

A countdown to 4 PM suits any routine built around a fixed hour. Think of a school bell, a bus, a call or a closing time. You see the wait at a glance and plan the rest of your day around it.

A background tab may pause its clock. When you return, the count jumps to the right time.

A bookmark is all you need to come back to this count. The page opens with the right figure for 4 PM, and the Share button passes it on to others.

Use the count to 4 PM to decide when to switch off screens. Subtract the hours you want to sleep from the time left. The answer is how long you have before bed.

A different city gives a different answer. The picker recalculates the count for wherever you choose.