Time Zone Converter: fast conversions with DST accuracy
Time zones look simple until daylight saving time (DST), half‑hour offsets, and ambiguous abbreviations (like CST) create mistakes. This converter uses your selected date to apply the correct offset for that exact moment—so your meeting time stays correct even when clocks change.
Quick reference: common UTC offsets (standard vs daylight)
Use this table as a cheat sheet. For exact results, always convert using a specific date—especially during DST season.
| Region / time zone | Standard | Daylight / Summer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Time (US/Canada) | UTC−08:00 | UTC−07:00 | PST/PDT |
| Mountain Time (US/Canada) | UTC−07:00 | UTC−06:00 | MST/MDT |
| Central Time (US/Canada) | UTC−06:00 | UTC−05:00 | CST/CDT |
| Eastern Time (US/Canada) | UTC−05:00 | UTC−04:00 | EST/EDT |
| United Kingdom | UTC±00:00 | UTC+01:00 | GMT/BST |
| Central Europe | UTC+01:00 | UTC+02:00 | CET/CEST |
| Eastern Europe | UTC+02:00 | UTC+03:00 | EET/EEST |
| India | UTC+05:30 | — | No DST (IST) |
| Singapore / China | UTC+08:00 | — | No DST (SGT/CST*) |
| Japan | UTC+09:00 | — | No DST (JST) |
| Sydney (Australia) | UTC+10:00 | UTC+11:00 | AEST/AEDT (varies by state) |
Understanding Daylight Saving Time (DST)
One of the biggest challenges in scheduling international calls is Daylight Saving Time. Different countries start and end DST on different dates—and some countries don’t use DST at all. For example, the US often shifts clocks weeks before most of Europe. Always verify the date: the correct offset depends on the day you’re converting.
What is UTC and GMT?
UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) is the world’s primary time standard. GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) is a time zone historically tied to the UK. In everyday use, “UTC” and “GMT” often mean the same thing—but offsets like UTC+1 or UTC−5 are what actually drive conversions.
Time zone abbreviations cheat sheet
Abbreviations are convenient, but they can also be confusing across countries. When possible, choose a city/region (IANA) time zone (like America/New_York) for accuracy.
| Abbrev. | Meaning | Typical offset | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| UTC | Coordinated Universal Time | UTC±00:00 | Time standard |
| GMT | Greenwich Mean Time | UTC±00:00 | UK winter time zone |
| BST | British Summer Time | UTC+01:00 | — |
| CET | Central European Time | UTC+01:00 | — |
| CEST | Central European Summer Time | UTC+02:00 | — |
| EET | Eastern European Time | UTC+02:00 | — |
| EEST | Eastern European Summer Time | UTC+03:00 | — |
| PST | Pacific Standard Time | UTC−08:00 | US/Canada (winter) |
| PDT | Pacific Daylight Time | UTC−07:00 | US/Canada (summer) |
| EST | Eastern Standard Time | UTC−05:00 | US/Canada (winter) |
| EDT | Eastern Daylight Time | UTC−04:00 | US/Canada (summer) |
| IST | India Standard Time | UTC+05:30 | Ambiguous abbreviation in general usage |
| JST | Japan Standard Time | UTC+09:00 | — |
| AEST | Australian Eastern Standard Time | UTC+10:00 | — |
| AEDT | Australian Eastern Daylight Time | UTC+11:00 | — |
Half-hour and quarter-hour time zones
Some locations don’t follow whole-hour offsets. This matters when you’re converting meeting times or flight schedules.
| Location | Typical offset | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Newfoundland (Canada) | UTC−03:30 | NST/NDT (DST applies) |
| India | UTC+05:30 | IST |
| Australia (ACST) | UTC+09:30 | Adelaide/Darwin (DST varies) |
| Nepal | UTC+05:45 | NPT |
| Chatham Islands (NZ) | UTC+12:45 | CHAST/CHADT (DST applies) |
Common time-zone mistakes (and how to avoid them)
- Relying on abbreviations (CST, IST, etc.) instead of a city/region: abbreviations can be ambiguous.
- Assuming offsets are fixed year‑round: DST can shift times by 1 hour in many regions.
- Scheduling “2:30 AM” during the spring DST jump: that local time may not exist.
- Comparing “today” across zones without specifying a date: midnight boundaries can change the calendar day.
Tips for International Meeting Planning
When scheduling across multiple zones, pick a single “source” time zone (usually the organizer’s) and convert outward. Always send calendar invites (Google Calendar / Outlook) so participants see the time in their own locale. If your meeting is near a DST transition weekend, double‑check the date and consider adding the UTC time in the invite title.
Time zone trivia (quick but useful)
- Not all time zones are whole hours: many places use +30 or +45 minute offsets (e.g., India UTC+5:30, Nepal UTC+5:45).
- Some abbreviations are reused in different countries with different meanings (e.g., “IST” can mean India, Israel, or Irish Standard Time).
- The IANA time zone database tracks historical and political changes—because time zone rules do change over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does this converter handle Daylight Saving Time (DST)?
- Yes. The converter applies DST rules based on the date you choose. For example, the same city can have a different UTC offset in July vs. December.
- How do I use this for meeting planning?
- Set your meeting time in the “From” city/time zone, then pick the participant’s “To” city/time zone. Change the date to confirm the correct offset if the meeting is near a DST transition.
- Are all time zones supported?
- We support all major time zones and cities defined in the IANA time zone database. If you don't see a specific city, choose a nearby major city in the same country.
- What is the time difference between EST and PST?
- Eastern Time is typically 3 hours ahead of Pacific Time. Example: 12:00 PM in New York is 9:00 AM in Los Angeles. (Note: both regions switch between standard and daylight time on specific dates.)
- Is GMT the same as UTC?
- They’re often treated as equivalent for everyday scheduling, but they’re not identical concepts: UTC is a time standard, while GMT is a time zone. For most conversions, what matters is the UTC offset (like UTC+1 or UTC−5).
- Why do some time zones have 30 or 45 minute offsets?
- Some countries adopted half-hour or quarter-hour offsets for historical and geographic reasons (for example, India is UTC+5:30 and Nepal is UTC+5:45). The converter supports these offsets automatically.
- Why can the same city show different offsets on different dates?
- Because DST (and sometimes rule changes) alter the UTC offset depending on the date. Always include the date when converting meeting times across regions.
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