Capital Time Zone
Eastern Standard Time EST
What Time Is It in Panama Right Now?
Local time in Panama
Today's Date and Day in Panama (PA):
Current Date and Time Information
Date&TimeDetails
Time Zone (IANA)
Day of Year
Days to Year End
Week of Year
Month of Year
Months to Year End
Current Season
Next Season
Leap Year
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Today's Date in Other Formats
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Panama Time Difference Tool - Convert Time Easily
Easily convert time zones between Panama and any city, country, or time zone in the world. Use this tool to check the current time difference and plan meetings, calls, or travel with confidence. Choose any location as the primary reference point to display the time difference.
Explore Professional Features11:38AM
🌍 Time Zone Converter Guide
Compare times across different zones and explore any moment in the day
Click the up arrow to make any timezone your reference point. All time differences will be calculated from this base.
Drag the grip icon to rearrange timezones in your preferred order. Base timezone cannot be dragged but others can be reordered.
Click the X button to delete a timezone from your comparison. Cannot remove if it's the only one left.
Use the slider below to explore different times. Drag to see how times change across all zones simultaneously.
View hour tiles showing the full 24-hour day. Use the time slider to navigate through different hours. Darker tiles indicate nighttime hours.
Switch between 12h/24h format and choose "Each" to set different formats per timezone or "All" to apply the same format to all zones.
💡 Pro tip: Add more timezones using the search above, then set one as your base to see all time differences at a glance!
Explore More Countries
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NiueUTC-11:00NUT
New ZealandUTC+12:00NZST
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Papua New GuineaUTC+10:00PGT
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Saint Pierre and MiquelonUTC-02:00PMDT
PitcairnUTC-08:00PST
Puerto RicoUTC-04:00AST
Palestinian TerritoryUTC+03:00EEST
Daylight Saving Time Changes in America/Panama
Track historical and upcoming DST transitions for America/Panama from 1900 to 2050. See when clocks spring forward or fall back and how the UTC offset changes.
Current Status in America/Panama
Eastern Standard Time (EST)
UTC-5
Next Change
No scheduled changes
| Date | Time | Change Type | UTC Offset |
|---|---|---|---|
| No DST changes found for the selected time zone and year range | |||
Panama Time Zones & Neighboring Countries
| IANA Time Zone | Full Name | Abbr | UTC Offset | DST Offset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
America/Panama CAPITAL | Eastern Standard Time | EST | -5 Hours | -5 Hours |
Neighboring Countries
| Country, Capital | IANA Time Zone | Full Name | Abbr | UTC Offset | DST Offset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| America/Bogota | Colombia Time | COT | -5 Hours | -5 Hours | |
| America/Costa_Rica | Central Standard Time | CST | -6 Hours | -6 Hours |
What Time Is It in Panama?
Panama's clock matches Colombia's year-round and lines up with US Eastern Time for part of the year — a quirk of being one of the few Central American countries fixed on UTC-5. The IANA identifier is America/Panama, and a live clock at the top of this page shows the exact current time.
Local Time and UTC Offset
Detail | Info |
|---|---|
Time zone name | Eastern Standard Time (EST) |
UTC offset | UTC-5 |
IANA identifier | America/Panama |
Daylight saving time | No |
Clock changes | None |
Does Panama Observe Daylight Saving Time?
Panama does not observe daylight saving time. The offset stays fixed across every season, with no clocks moving forward or back. Any future changes would depend on government decisions.
A Single National Clock
Yes, all of Panama — from the Caribbean coast to the Pacific side, including the Canal Zone — runs on one UTC-5 time with no internal split.
The Panama Canal and National Time
The Panama Canal operates on Panama's national time (UTC-5), helping coordinate vessel movements throughout the year. Always confirm transit schedules directly with the Panama Canal Authority or your shipping operator.
How Panama's Offset Compares Regionally
Location | Time Difference from Panama |
|---|---|
Same time (both fixed at UTC-5) | |
1 hour behind (both fixed offsets, no DST) | |
Same time to 1 hour ahead, depending on seasonal clock changes there | |
2 to 3 hours behind Panama, depending on seasonal clock changes there | |
5 to 6 hours ahead, depending on seasonal clock changes there |
Why Panama's Clock Sometimes Confuses Travelers
Because Panama sits on UTC-5 without daylight saving, it lines up exactly with US Eastern Standard Time for part of the year but falls an hour behind once the US switches to Eastern Daylight Time. Visitors and business contacts assuming a constant "same as New York" relationship can end up an hour off during part of the year. Checking the current seasonal alignment before scheduling calls avoids the mix-up.
Best Time to Call Panama
Caller Location | Good Calling Window (local time) | Equivalent in Panama |
|---|---|---|
New York (ET) | 9:00 AM–5:00 PM | Usually 8:00 AM–5:00 PM |
Los Angeles (PT) | 9:00 AM–5:00 PM | Usually 11:00 AM–7:00 PM |
London (GMT/BST) | 9:00 AM–5:00 PM | Usually 3:00 AM–11:00 AM |
Windows shift slightly depending on the caller's own seasonal clock changes, since Panama's side of the gap never moves.
FAQ
What UTC offset does Panama use?
Panama uses UTC-5 year-round, corresponding to Eastern Standard Time.
Does Panama change its clocks seasonally?
No. Panama's offset stays fixed all year, since the country does not observe daylight saving time.
Is the same time used across all of Panama, including the Canal Zone?
Yes, the entire country, including areas around the Panama Canal, shares one UTC-5 time.
Is Panama the same time as Colombia?
Yes, Panama and Bogotá share the same fixed UTC-5 offset with no seasonal difference.
Is Panama the same time as Costa Rica?
No. Costa Rica sits one hour behind Panama, and that gap stays constant since neither country observes daylight saving time.
Does Panama match US Eastern Time all year?
Only during part of the year. Panama matches Eastern Standard Time but falls an hour behind once the US shifts to Eastern Daylight Time.
Could Panama introduce daylight saving time in the future?
Any future changes would depend on government decisions.
What's a good time to call Panama from abroad?
It depends on the caller's location and season — see the calling-window table above for New York, Los Angeles, and London.