Current Time in Denver, Colorado
Denver, the Mile High City, operates on Mountain Time (MT). The current local time in Denver is displayed in the live clock above. During standard time (fall/winter), Denver is at UTC-7; during daylight saving time (spring/summer), clocks advance to UTC-6. Unlike Denver, Phoenix, Arizona does not observe DST, so in summer Denver is one hour ahead of Phoenix. For a global perspective, check Time.now for the world clock.
Mountain Time Zone Overview
Denver is the largest city in the Mountain Time Zone (MT). The zone covers parts of western North America, including Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, New Mexico, and Arizona (except the Navajo Nation). However, Arizona does not observe DST, so during summer, Denver shares the same time as Phoenix only during standard time. The Mountain Time Zone is two hours behind Eastern Time (ET) and one hour ahead of Pacific Time (PT). For comparison, see Time in New York and Time in Los Angeles.
Daylight Saving Time in Denver
Denver observes DST from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. Clocks spring forward one hour in March (from UTC-7 to UTC-6) and fall back in November. This shift aligns Denver with most of the United States, except for Arizona and Hawaii. In summer, Denver is one hour ahead of Phoenix. For more on the Mountain Time Zone, visit Mountain Time (MT).
UTC Offsets and Time Differences
| Season | UTC Offset | Denver vs. Phoenix | Denver vs. New York |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Time (Nov-Mar) | UTC-7 | Same | Denver 2 hours behind |
| Daylight Time (Mar-Nov) | UTC-6 | Denver 1 hour ahead | Denver 2 hours behind |
Denver's time difference to other US zones: Eastern Time (ET) is always 2 hours ahead; Central Time (CT) is 1 hour ahead; Pacific Time (PT) is 1 hour behind. For example, when it is noon in Denver, it is 2 pm in New York (ET) and 11 am in Los Angeles (PT). Check Time in Chicago for Central Time comparison.
Denver Time and Travel
Travelers to Denver should adjust their clocks accordingly. If flying from Phoenix in summer, you will need to set your watch one hour ahead. For international travelers, Denver's time zone is often referred to as Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) in summer and Mountain Standard Time (MST) in winter. For non-US city times, visit TimeRight.Now or CurrentTime.now for a multi-city world clock view.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time zone is Denver in?
Denver is in the Mountain Time Zone (MT). It observes Mountain Standard Time (MST, UTC-7) in winter and Mountain Daylight Time (MDT, UTC-6) in summer.
Does Denver observe Daylight Saving Time?
Yes, Denver observes DST. Clocks spring forward one hour on the second Sunday of March and fall back on the first Sunday of November.
Is Denver the same time as Phoenix?
Only during standard time (winter). In summer, Denver is one hour ahead of Phoenix because Arizona does not observe DST.
What is the UTC offset for Denver?
Denver is UTC-7 during standard time and UTC-6 during daylight saving time.
How many hours behind New York is Denver?
Denver is always 2 hours behind New York City. For example, when it is 3 pm in New York, it is 1 pm in Denver.
What is the time difference between Denver and Los Angeles?
Denver is 1 hour ahead of Los Angeles. When it is noon in Denver, it is 11 am in Los Angeles.