Parts of an Analogue Clock Explained

An analogue clock looks simple, but every part of it has a job. Knowing the names of those parts makes it far easier to read the time, teach a child, or describe a clock you want to buy or build. Here is each part of an analogue clock, from the face you look at to the hands that move across it.

The main parts of an analogue clock

The clock face (dial): The face, also called the dial, is the flat front surface you read. It carries the numbers or markers and gives the hands something to point at. Everything else is arranged around it.
The hour hand: The hour hand is the short, thick hand. It points to the hour and moves slowly, completing one full circle every twelve hours. Because it is short, it is easy to tell apart from the others at a glance.
The minute hand: The minute hand is the long, thin hand. It points to the minutes and travels right around the dial once every hour, so it moves twelve times faster than the hour hand.
The second hand: The second hand is the thinnest hand, and often a different colour. It sweeps around the face once every minute. Not every clock has one, but it is useful for timing and for seeing at a glance that the clock is running.
The hour markers (numerals): These are the twelve points around the edge of the dial. They may be Arabic numbers (1 to 12), Roman numerals (I to XII), or simple tick marks. They tell you which hour the hour hand is pointing to.
The minute track: Around the very edge sits a ring of sixty small marks, one for each minute. The five larger marks line up with the hour numerals, which is why each step between numbers is worth five minutes.
The centre (the boss or pinion): All the hands are fixed at the middle of the dial, on a small hub. Behind the face, the movement turns this hub at three different speeds so the hour, minute, and second hands keep the right pace.

Why the parts are shaped the way they are

The design is not decoration — it is built for fast reading. The hour hand is short and stout so it never gets confused with the long, slender minute hand, and the second hand is thin and quick so it stands apart from both. Your eye learns these shapes once and reads them instantly for the rest of your life.

The numbers and the minute track work the same way. The twelve numerals give you the hour, and the sixty-mark track lets you read the exact minute without counting. Together the parts turn a moving angle into a precise time, which is something digits on a screen can never do as quickly.

See the parts on a live clock

Now that you know the names, look at them on a real, running clock or learn how they combine to tell the time.

Browse clock facesCompare classic, Roman numeral, minimal, and modern dials and see the markers on each.How to read an analogue clockA step-by-step guide that puts the hour, minute, and second hands to work.Open a fullscreen clockWatch a large live clock so you can point out each part on a screen or board.

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Parts of a clock FAQ

What are the three hands on an analogue clock called?

They are the hour hand (short and thick), the minute hand (long and thin), and the second hand (thinnest, and often coloured). Each moves at a different speed.

What is the face of a clock called?

The face is also called the dial. It is the front surface that holds the numbers or markers and the hands you read.

Why is the hour hand shorter than the minute hand?

The different lengths make the hands easy to tell apart at a glance. The short hand always shows the hour and the long hand always shows the minutes.

What are the small marks around the edge of a clock for?

They form the minute track — sixty marks, one per minute. The larger marks line up with the hour numbers, so each gap between numbers is five minutes.