Wondering how to convert to convert a String to a Timespan.. See below for an example snippet. TimeSpan myTimeSpan = TimeSpan.Parse(myString); (or) TimeSpan myTimeSpan; if (TimeSpan.TryParse(myString, out myTimeSpan)) { // Do something } or var time = DateTime . ParseExact ( "17:00" , "HH:mm" , null ). ToString ( "hh:mm tt" ); returns 05:00 PM DateTime.ParseExact is returning DateTime Edited: Include CultureInfo var time = DateTime . ParseExact ( "17:00" , "HH:mm" , null ). ToString ( "hh:mm tt" , CultureInfo . GetCultureInfo ( "en-US" )); or