💡 How-To
Understanding US Time Zones (EST, CST, MST, PST)
The US spans6 time zones, which can make scheduling across states confusing. Here's everything you need to know about EST, CST, MST, PST, and daylight saving time.
The Four Main Time Zones
| Zone | Offset (Standard) | Offset (Daylight) | Major Cities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern (ET) | UTC-5 (EST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | New York, Miami, Atlanta |
| Central (CT) | UTC-6 (CST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | Chicago, Dallas, Houston |
| Mountain (MT) | UTC-7 (MST) | UTC-6 (MDT) | Denver, Phoenix, Salt Lake City |
| Pacific (PT) | UTC-8 (PST) | UTC-7 (PDT) | Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco |
Additional Zones
- Alaska (AKST/AKDT): UTC-9/UTC-8 " — most of Alaska
- Hawaii-Aleutian (HST): UTC-10 " — Hawaii (no daylight saving)
Daylight Saving Time 2026
- Starts: March 8, 2026 (clocks spring forward1 hour)
- Ends: November 1, 2026 (clocks fall back1 hour)
- Exceptions: Arizona (except Navajo Nation) and Hawaii don't observe DST
Quick Conversion Reference
| If it's 12:00 PM in... | It's this time in other zones |
|---|---|
| Eastern | 11:00 AM CT · 10:00 AM MT · 9:00 AM PT |
| Central | 1:00 PM ET · 11:00 AM MT · 10:00 AM PT |
| Mountain | 2:00 PM ET · 1:00 PM CT · 11:00 AM PT |
| Pacific | 3:00 PM ET · 2:00 PM CT · 1:00 PM MT |
The phone trick: Your phone automatically adjusts for daylight saving time and time zones. Use it as your reference " — just make sure "Set Automatically" is enabled in settings. When in doubt, check your phone's clock.
⚠️ What NOT to do:
- Don't assume everyone observes daylight saving " — Arizona and Hawaii don't
- Don't forget to specify AM/PM " — 12:00 PM is noon, not midnight
- Don't use EST during daylight saving " — it should be EDT
- Don't schedule meetings across zones without confirming the time
The bottom line: The US has4 main time zones: Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific. Daylight saving time runs from March to November. When scheduling across zones, always specify the time zone (e.g., "3:00 PM ET") and use your phone's automatic clock as reference.