How To Convert Time Zones
Converting between time zones requires knowing the UTC offset of each location. UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) is the global time standard against which all time zones are measured.
How it works:
Every time zone is expressed as UTC plus or minus a number of hours. To convert between two time zones, find the UTC offset of each and calculate the difference.
Our converter handles all offsets automatically — including half-hour and quarter-hour offsets used by countries like India, Iran, and Nepal.
US Time Zones Explained
The contiguous United States spans four primary time zones. Alaska and Hawaii each have their own.
| Time Zone | Abbreviation | UTC Offset | Major Cities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Time | EST / EDT | UTC − 5 / UTC − 4 | New York, Miami, Atlanta, Boston |
| Central Time | CST / CDT | UTC − 6 / UTC − 5 | Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Minneapolis |
| Mountain Time | MST / MDT | UTC − 7 / UTC − 6 | Denver, Phoenix, Salt Lake City |
| Pacific Time | PST / PDT | UTC − 8 / UTC − 7 | Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco |
| Alaska Time | AKST / AKDT | UTC − 9 / UTC − 8 | Anchorage, Fairbanks |
| Hawaii Time | HST | UTC − 10 | Honolulu |
Note: The standard abbreviation (EST, CST, etc.) applies during winter. During daylight saving time, clocks spring forward one hour and the daylight abbreviation applies (EDT, CDT, etc.). Arizona does not observe daylight saving time and remains on MST year round.
US time zone differences at a glance:
- Eastern is 1 hour ahead of Central
- Central is 1 hour ahead of Mountain
- Mountain is 1 hour ahead of Pacific
- New York is 3 hours ahead of Los Angeles
International Time Zones — Major Cities
| City | Country | Time Zone | UTC Offset |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | UK | GMT / BST | UTC + 0 / UTC + 1 |
| Paris | France | CET / CEST | UTC + 1 / UTC + 2 |
| Dubai | UAE | GST | UTC + 4 |
| Mumbai | India | IST | UTC + 5:30 |
| Karachi | Pakistan | PKT | UTC + 5 |
| Dhaka | Bangladesh | BST | UTC + 6 |
| Bangkok | Thailand | ICT | UTC + 7 |
| Singapore | Singapore | SGT | UTC + 8 |
| Tokyo | Japan | JST | UTC + 9 |
| Sydney | Australia | AEST / AEDT | UTC + 10 / UTC + 11 |
| Auckland | New Zealand | NZST / NZDT | UTC + 12 / UTC + 13 |
| São Paulo | Brazil | BRT | UTC − 3 |
| Mexico City | Mexico | CST / CDT | UTC − 6 / UTC − 5 |
| Toronto | Canada | EST / EDT | UTC − 5 / UTC − 4 |
Unusual offsets worth knowing:
- India (IST) = UTC + 5:30 — a 30-minute offset
- Nepal (NPT) = UTC + 5:45 — a 45-minute offset
- Iran (IRST) = UTC + 3:30 — a 30-minute offset
- Chatham Islands, New Zealand = UTC + 12:45
Best Time To Schedule an International Meeting
Finding a time that works across multiple time zones is one of the most common challenges for remote and global teams. The goal is to find an overlap within normal business hours (9 AM to 6 PM) for all participants.
| Meeting Participants | Best Overlap Window |
|---|---|
| New York + London | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM EST (2:00 PM – 6:00 PM GMT) |
| New York + Dubai | 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM EST (4:00 PM – 7:00 PM GST) |
| London + Singapore | 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM GMT (4:00 PM – 8:00 PM SGT) |
| New York + Tokyo | Very limited — 8:00 AM EST = 10:00 PM JST |
| Los Angeles + London | 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM PST (4:00 PM – 6:00 PM GMT) |
| New York + Sydney | Extremely limited — consider alternating meeting times |
Best practices for scheduling across time zones:
- Always reference UTC when communicating meeting times internationally to avoid confusion
- Rotate inconvenient meeting times fairly across team members in different regions
- Use our converter to verify the local time for every participant before sending a calendar invite
- Build in a buffer of 15 minutes — time zone math errors are common and costly
- Be explicit about daylight saving time — clocks in the US and Europe change on different dates
Daylight Saving Time — What You Need To Know
Daylight saving time (DST) shifts clocks forward by one hour in spring and back by one hour in fall. Not all countries observe DST, which means the time difference between two locations can change twice per year.
| Region | Clocks Spring Forward | Clocks Fall Back |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Second Sunday in March | First Sunday in November |
| European Union | Last Sunday in March | Last Sunday in October |
| Australia | First Sunday in October | First Sunday in April |
| United Kingdom | Last Sunday in March | Last Sunday in October |
Countries that do NOT observe DST:
China, Japan, India, Pakistan, most of Africa and Southeast Asia, and the majority of countries near the equator.
Why this matters for time zone conversion:
The time difference between New York and London is 5 hours in winter (EST vs GMT) but only 4 hours in spring and fall when the US has already changed clocks but the UK has not yet, or vice versa. This two-to-three week window each year causes significant scheduling confusion for international teams.
Our converter automatically accounts for daylight saving time based on the current date so your conversions are always accurate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is it in New York right now?
New York operates on Eastern Time — UTC minus 5 hours in winter (EST) and UTC minus 4 hours in summer during daylight saving time (EDT). Use our time zone converter above to see the exact current time in New York alongside any other city in the world.
How do I convert EST to PST?
Pacific Time is 3 hours behind Eastern Time. To convert EST to PST, subtract 3 hours. For example, 12:00 PM EST is 9:00 AM PST. During daylight saving time both zones shift together so the 3-hour difference remains consistent throughout the year.
What is UTC time?
UTC stands for Coordinated Universal Time and is the global reference point for all time zones. It does not change for daylight saving time. All other time zones are expressed as UTC plus or minus a number of hours. For example, New York is UTC minus 5, London is UTC plus 0, and Tokyo is UTC plus 9.
What is the time difference between New York and London?
The time difference is 5 hours in winter — New York is on EST (UTC minus 5) and London is on GMT (UTC plus 0). The difference narrows to 4 hours briefly in spring and fall when the US and UK change their clocks on different dates. In summer both are on daylight saving time and the difference returns to 5 hours.
How many time zones are there in the world?
There are 24 standard time zones based on 15-degree longitude divisions, but the actual number of distinct UTC offsets in use worldwide is approximately 38 when accounting for half-hour and quarter-hour offsets used by countries like India, Iran, Nepal, and parts of Australia.
What time zone is EST?
EST stands for Eastern Standard Time and is the time zone used by the eastern United States and Canada during winter months. It is UTC minus 5. During daylight saving time (from March to November), the zone switches to EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) at UTC minus 4. Major cities on Eastern Time include New York, Washington D.C., Miami, Boston, and Toronto.
Does India have a half-hour time zone?
Yes. India Standard Time (IST) is UTC plus 5 hours and 30 minutes — a 30-minute offset from the nearest whole hour. India does not observe daylight saving time so this offset remains constant year round. Nepal goes even further with a 45-minute offset at UTC plus 5:45.
How does daylight saving time affect international meeting scheduling?
DST can shift the time difference between two locations by one hour, and because different countries change their clocks on different dates, there is typically a two to three week window in spring and fall where the offset between regions is temporarily different from usual. Always use a time zone converter that accounts for the current date to avoid scheduling errors during these transition periods.
Last updated: 2026 | Data is dynamically synchronized using the international tz timezone database.