Pacific Time Zone (PT)
The Pacific Time Zone (PT) covers the westernmost part of the contiguous United States. The live clock above shows the current time in Los Angeles, the largest city in the zone. Pacific Standard Time (PST) is UTC-8, and Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) is UTC-7. This zone includes major cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Las Vegas, and Portland. It is home to the US tech industry (Silicon Valley), Hollywood entertainment, and West Coast business. For world times, visit Time.now.
States and Major Cities
The Pacific Time Zone includes the entire states of California, Washington, Oregon (most of it), and Nevada (most of it). It also includes parts of Idaho (north of the Salmon River) and British Columbia in Canada. Key US cities: Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento, Seattle, Portland, Las Vegas, and Vancouver (WA). For Las Vegas specifically, see time in Las Vegas.
Daylight Saving Time (DST) and UTC Offsets
Pacific Time observes DST from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. Clocks spring forward 1 hour (PST to PDT) and fall back 1 hour (PDT to PST). The table below shows UTC offsets by season:
| Season | Offset | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|
| Winter (Standard Time) | UTC-8 | PST |
| Summer (Daylight Time) | UTC-7 | PDT |
During DST, Pacific Time is 3 hours behind Eastern Time (ET) (which is UTC-4) and 2 hours behind Central Time (CT) (UTC-5). When not in DST, the difference is 3 hours behind ET and 2 hours behind CT.
Time Difference to Other US Zones
Pacific Time is always 1 hour behind Mountain Time (MT) (UTC-7/UTC-6). The table below shows typical differences during standard time:
| US Time Zone | Difference from Pacific |
|---|---|
| Eastern Time (ET) | +3 hours |
| Central Time (CT) | +2 hours |
| Mountain Time (MT) | +1 hour |
| Hawaii-Aleutian (HT) | -2 hours |
| Alaska (AKT) | -1 hour |
For conversions, use EST to PST Converter or PST to EST Converter. Also see EST to CST Converter for Central Time.
Role in Technology, Entertainment, and Business
Pacific Time is the de facto standard for US tech companies. Silicon Valley (California) operates on PT, and many software releases, webinars, and live events are scheduled in PT. Hollywood and the entertainment industry also use PT for premieres and award shows. West Coast financial markets (e.g., NASDAQ after-hours) align with PT. For non-US city times, see TimeRight.Now or the multi-city view at CurrentTime.now.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current Pacific Time?
The live clock at the top of this page shows the current time in Los Angeles, which is in the Pacific Time Zone. You can also check Time.now for world times.
What states are in the Pacific Time Zone?
California, Washington, Oregon (most), Nevada (most), and part of Idaho (north of the Salmon River). Also includes British Columbia (Canada) and Baja California (Mexico).
What is the difference between PST and PDT?
PST is Pacific Standard Time (UTC-8), used in fall and winter. PDT is Pacific Daylight Time (UTC-7), used in spring and summer during Daylight Saving Time.
How many hours behind Eastern Time is Pacific Time?
Pacific Time is 3 hours behind Eastern Time during both standard and daylight saving time (ET is UTC-5/UTC-4).
When does Daylight Saving Time start and end in the Pacific Time Zone?
DST starts on the second Sunday in March (clocks forward 1 hour) and ends on the first Sunday in November (clocks back 1 hour).
What is the time difference between Pacific Time and Mountain Time?
Pacific Time is 1 hour behind Mountain Time year-round (MT is UTC-7/UTC-6).