Eastern Time — Current Time
Eastern Time is the default clock for roughly half of the US population, anchoring the New York Stock Exchange, Washington D.C., and the country's financial and political center of gravity.
Most US clocks jump from 2:00 AM to 3:00 AM — you lose an hour of sleep. Arizona, Hawaii, and the US territories don't change at all.
Where Eastern Time is observed
The most populous US time zone: the entire East Coast from Maine to Florida, plus Michigan, Indiana (mostly), and Kentucky's eastern half.
* Only part of this state is in Eastern Time.
Major cities in Eastern Time
Eastern Time vs. other US zones
| Location | Current time | UTC offset | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Time | 12:26 PM CST | UTC-6 | 1 hour behind |
| Mountain Time | 11:26 AM MST | UTC-7 | 2 hours behind |
| Pacific Time | 10:26 AM PST | UTC-8 | 3 hours behind |
| Alaska Time | 9:26 AM AKST | UTC-9 | 4 hours behind |
| Hawaii-Aleutian Time | 8:26 AM HST | UTC-10 | 5 hours behind |
| Atlantic Time | 2:26 PM AST | UTC-4 | 1 hour ahead |
| Samoa Time | 7:26 AM GMT-11 | UTC-11 | 6 hours behind |
| Chamorro Time | 4:26 AM GMT+10 | UTC+10 | 15 hours ahead |
Convert Eastern Time to another zone
Frequently asked questions
What is the current UTC offset for Eastern Time?
Eastern Time is UTC-5 during standard time, and one hour ahead (UTC-4) during daylight saving.
Does Eastern Time observe daylight saving time?
Most of Eastern Time observes daylight saving, shifting clocks forward one hour each spring and back each fall, following the same US federal schedule as the rest of the country.
Which states are in Eastern Time?
The most populous US time zone: the entire East Coast from Maine to Florida, plus Michigan, Indiana (mostly), and Kentucky's eastern half.