EST to PST Converter

The short answer: EST (UTC-5) is 3 hours ahead of PST (UTC-8). When it's 9 AM in Los Angeles, it's noon in New York. When it's 5 PM in New York, it's 2 PM in Los Angeles.

The 3-hour gap that never moves

Most people assume the Eastern-to-Pacific split shifts with the seasons. It doesn't. The 3-hour difference is constant year-round, but only if you match the right abbreviations.

Both coasts observe daylight saving time and switch on the same dates. When the East Coast moves to EDT (UTC-4), the West Coast moves to PDT (UTC-7). The gap stays at 3 hours. Always.

When EST and PST actually apply

From early November through early March, most of the Eastern Time Zone runs on EST (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-5) and the Pacific Time Zone runs on PST (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-8).

• EST (UTC-5) is 3 hours ahead of PST (UTC-8)
• This covers the standard time window: after the first Sunday in November until the second Sunday in March

In 2026, clocks fall back on Sunday 1 November and spring forward on Sunday 8 March. Between those dates the difference is exactly 3 hours. No ambiguity.

EDT to PDT: same gap, wrong abbreviation

In summer neither zone uses "EST" or "PST." Those labels technically stop applying.

• EDT (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-4) is 3 hours ahead of PDT (Pacific Daylight Time, UTC-7)

The gap holds at 3 hours. But if someone says "let's meet at 3 PM EST" in July, they're wrong. It should be EDT. This is the single most common time zone error in the US.

The fix: say ET and PT. Those labels work year-round and sidestep the confusion entirely.

Common conversion examples

Why 3 hours reshapes the workday

A 9 AM meeting in New York is a 6 AM start in Los Angeles. That gap forces West Coast teams to build their schedules around it. Many adopt "core hours" that start later. Some companies block morning slots on Pacific calendars entirely to avoid 6 AM calls.

The best cross-coast meeting window: 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM ET. That's 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM PT. Both sides get reasonable working hours. For a fuller breakdown, see best times to call across US time zones.

TV, markets, and the 3-hour offset

Network prime time runs 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM ET. That's 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM PT. The famous "8/7 Central" notation exists because the gap determines when tens of millions of people sit down to watch. See how US broadcast time zones work.

The NYSE opens at 9:30 AM ET. That's 6:30 AM PT. West Coast traders have been starting early for decades. The 4:00 PM ET close lands at 1:00 PM PT, leaving the afternoon free.

Quick reference: New York to Los Angeles

The bottom line: Eastern is always 3 hours ahead of Pacific. The only thing that changes is the abbreviation: EST/PST in winter, EDT/PDT in summer. Say ET and PT and your calendar won't care which season it is. For more on how the zones work, check the Eastern Time Zone guide and Pacific Time Zone guide.