US Time Zone Map - Complete Guide to All US Time Zones
The United States spans six standard time zones, each stepping one hour westward from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific and beyond. From the Eastern Time Zone (UTC-5) to the Hawaii-Aleutian Time Zone (UTC-10), these zones define the rhythm of daily life for over 330 million people. This guide provides a clear overview of each zone, its major states and cities, and answers common questions about US timekeeping. For the current time in any US city, visit Time.now.
| Time Zone | UTC Offset (Standard) | Key States / Territories | Major Cities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Time (ET) | UTC-5 | New York, Florida, Georgia, Washington DC, most of Michigan | New York City, Washington DC, Atlanta, Miami |
| Central Time (CT) | UTC-6 | Texas, Illinois, Missouri, Louisiana, most of Kansas | Chicago, Dallas, Houston, New Orleans |
| Mountain Time (MT) | UTC-7 | Colorado, Arizona (no DST), New Mexico, Utah | Denver, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque |
| Pacific Time (PT) | UTC-8 | California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada | Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland |
| Alaska Time (AKT) | UTC-9 | Alaska (most of state) | Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau |
| Hawaii-Aleutian Time (HST) | UTC-10 | Hawaii, Aleutian Islands (west of 169°30' W) | Honolulu, Hilo, Adak |
As you travel westward, each zone is one hour behind the previous. For example, when it is 12:00 noon in New York (Eastern), it is 11:00 AM in Chicago (Central), 10:00 AM in Denver (Mountain), 9:00 AM in Los Angeles (Pacific), 8:00 AM in Anchorage (Alaska), and 7:00 AM in Honolulu (Hawaii-Aleutian). Several states are split between two time zones: Nebraska, Kansas, Texas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, Michigan, Oregon, and Idaho. The boundaries often follow county lines or natural features. For detailed information on Eastern Time, see Eastern Time (ET); for Central Time, see Central Time (CT); for Mountain Time, see Mountain Time (MT).
Eastern Time Zone (UTC-5)
The Eastern Time Zone is the most populous in the US, covering roughly half the nation's population. It includes major financial and political centers like New York City and Washington DC. During daylight saving time (second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November), clocks shift to UTC-4, known as Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The zone extends from the Atlantic coast westward to the Mississippi River. For live times in Miami, check time in Miami.
Central Time Zone (UTC-6)
Central Time covers a broad swath of the Midwest and South, including Chicago, Dallas, and Houston. Like Eastern, it observes daylight saving time (UTC-5 during summer). The zone spans from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. Some states, such as Kansas and Nebraska, are split between Central and Mountain time. For the current time in Las Vegas (which is Pacific, but nearby), see time in Las Vegas.
Mountain Time Zone (UTC-7)
Mountain Time covers the Rocky Mountain region. A notable exception is Arizona, which does not observe daylight saving time, so it remains on Mountain Standard Time (UTC-7) year-round. This means that during summer, Arizona is on the same time as Pacific Daylight Time. For an in-depth explanation, read Does Arizona Use DST?. The Navajo Nation, within Arizona, does observe DST, creating a small pocket of different timekeeping.
Pacific Time Zone (UTC-8)
Pacific Time covers the West Coast, including California, Oregon, Washington, and Nevada. Major cities include Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and Portland. During DST, it shifts to UTC-7 (Pacific Daylight Time). This zone is home to the entertainment and technology industries, influencing global schedules.
Alaska Time Zone (UTC-9)
Alaska Time covers most of Alaska, except the western Aleutian Islands, which use Hawaii-Aleutian Time. Despite its large area, Alaska has a relatively small population. It observes DST, moving to UTC-8 in summer. The sun can behave strangely at these latitudes, with very long days in June and very short days in December.
Hawaii-Aleutian Time Zone (UTC-10)
Hawaii-Aleutian Time is used in Hawaii and the western Aleutian Islands of Alaska. Hawaii does not observe daylight saving time, so its offset remains UTC-10 year-round. This means that during summer, Hawaii is three hours behind the West Coast (Pacific Daylight Time). The zone is the farthest west of the US time zones.
Daylight Saving Time in the US
Most of the United States observes daylight saving time (DST), which begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. Clocks spring forward one hour in March and fall back in November. The exceptions are Hawaii, most of Arizona, and the US territories (Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands). For a complete overview, see Daylight Saving Time USA 2026. DST can affect scheduling, especially for interstate business and travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the six US time zones?
The six US time zones are Eastern (UTC-5), Central (UTC-6), Mountain (UTC-7), Pacific (UTC-8), Alaska (UTC-9), and Hawaii-Aleutian (UTC-10). Some sources also include Atlantic Time (UTC-4) for Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands, but these are territories, not states.
Which states are split between two time zones?
Several states are split: Nebraska, Kansas, Texas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, Michigan, Oregon, and Idaho. The boundaries often follow county lines or natural features like rivers.
Does Arizona observe daylight saving time?
Most of Arizona does not observe DST. It remains on Mountain Standard Time (UTC-7) year-round. However, the Navajo Nation within Arizona does observe DST. For more details, see Does Arizona Use DST?.
What is the time difference between New York and Los Angeles?
New York (Eastern) is three hours ahead of Los Angeles (Pacific) during standard time. During DST, both zones shift, so the difference remains three hours. For example, 12:00 PM in New York is 9:00 AM in Los Angeles.
How do I convert time between US zones?
To convert, simply add or subtract hours based on the offset difference. For instance, to convert Eastern to Pacific, subtract three hours. For worldwide conversions, use TimeRight.Now or CurrentTime.now for a multi-city world clock view.
What US territories have different time zones?
US territories: Puerto Rico (Atlantic Time, UTC-4, no DST), US Virgin Islands (Atlantic Time, UTC-4, no DST), Guam (Chamorro Time, UTC+10, no DST), American Samoa (Samoa Time, UTC-11, no DST), and Northern Mariana Islands (Chamorro Time, UTC+10, no DST).