Alaska Time Zone
The Alaska Time Zone (AKST/AKDT) covers nearly all of the state of Alaska, including major cities such as Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau. The current time in Anchorage is shown in the live clock above. For a world clock view of other cities, visit TimeRight.Now or CurrentTime.now. Alaska observes Daylight Saving Time, switching between Alaska Standard Time (AKST, UTC-9) and Alaska Daylight Time (AKDT, UTC-8). The only exception is the Aleutian Islands west of 169°30′W, which use Hawaii-Aleutian Time (HST/HDT). For more precise time conversions, you can use EST to PST Converter or PST to EST Converter.
Alaska Time Zone Boundaries and Cities
The Alaska Time Zone encompasses the entire state except for the westernmost Aleutian Islands. The zone is one hour behind the Pacific Time Zone (PT) and four hours behind Eastern Time (ET). Major cities in the zone include Anchorage (the largest), Fairbanks (the second-largest), and Juneau (the capital). Other significant communities include Wasilla, Sitka, Ketchikan, and Bethel. The zone's boundaries follow the 141st meridian west in the east and the 169°30′W meridian in the west, with the exception of the Aleutian Islands.
Daylight Saving Time in Alaska
Alaska observes Daylight Saving Time (DST) from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November, in line with the rest of the United States. During DST, clocks are set forward one hour, shifting from AKST (UTC-9) to AKDT (UTC-8). This means that during summer, Alaska is only one hour behind Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) and three hours behind Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The transition dates for 2026 are March 8 (spring forward) and November 1 (fall back).
UTC Offset and Time Difference Table
| Season | Time Zone Abbreviation | UTC Offset | Difference from Eastern Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter (Standard Time) | AKST | UTC-9 | 4 hours behind ET |
| Summer (Daylight Time) | AKDT | UTC-8 | 4 hours behind EDT / 3 hours behind EST* |
*Note: During DST, Eastern Time also observes DST, so the difference remains 4 hours. When comparing AKDT to Eastern Standard Time (EST), the difference is 3 hours because EST does not observe DST. For conversion tools, see EST to CST Converter.
Comparison with Other US Time Zones
Alaska Time is one hour behind Pacific Time (PT), two hours behind Mountain Time (MT), three hours behind Central Time (CT), and four hours behind Eastern Time (ET). For example, when it is 12:00 PM AKST, it is 1:00 PM PST, 2:00 PM MST, 3:00 PM CST, and 4:00 PM EST. During DST, these differences remain the same because all zones shift together. For more details on other zones, see Eastern Time (ET), Central Time (CT), and Mountain Time (MT).
History and Unique Aspects
Before 1983, Alaska used multiple time zones, but in 1983 the state consolidated to two zones: the Alaska Time Zone for most of the state and the Hawaii-Aleutian Time Zone for the western Aleutians. This change simplified scheduling and commerce. The Aleutian Islands exception exists because those islands are geographically closer to Hawaii and follow its time zone. The 180th meridian also passes through the Aleutians, causing some islands to be in the Eastern Hemisphere, but they still use Alaska or Hawaii-Aleutian time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current time in Alaska?
The current time in Anchorage is shown in the live clock above. For other cities, you can use the world clock at TimeRight.Now.
Does Alaska observe Daylight Saving Time?
Yes, Alaska observes DST from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November, switching between AKST (UTC-9) and AKDT (UTC-8).
What is the time difference between Alaska and Hawaii?
Alaska is one hour ahead of Hawaii during standard time (AKST vs HST) and two hours ahead during daylight saving time (AKDT vs HDT).
Which cities are in the Alaska Time Zone?
Major cities include Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Wasilla, Sitka, Ketchikan, and Bethel. The zone covers most of the state except the western Aleutian Islands.
How many time zones does Alaska have?
Alaska has two time zones: the Alaska Time Zone (most of the state) and the Hawaii-Aleutian Time Zone (western Aleutian Islands).
Is Alaska Time the same as Pacific Time?
No, Alaska Time is one hour behind Pacific Time. For example, 12:00 PM AKST is 1:00 PM PST.