Minute (min)

Definition

Exactly 60 seconds.

History

The minute, exactly 60 seconds, comes from the Babylonian base-60 system passed down through astronomy, the same system that gives 60 minutes to the hour. Its name means a small part.

Where it is used

Minutes are an everyday unit for timing, scheduling and cooking.

Typical uses include everyday timing, cooking.

Conversion pages

These pages convert minute to or from another unit in time.

No conversion pages use this unit yet.

Other Time units

• Second (s)
• Hour (h)
• Day (d)
• Week (wk)
• Month (mo)
• Year (yr)

Sources

• BIPM SI BIPM SI Brochure (2019); the second is defined by the caesium-133 transition · Dataset reviewed Sep 18, 2026