Compare Time Zones
Time Zone Difference Calculator
Find out how many hours ahead or behind any city is from another. Schedule calls, plan trips, or coordinate with colleagues across the globe — instantly.
Compare Time Zones Side by Side
Add multiple time zones and see the current time in each location. Perfect for scheduling meetings across UTC-12 to UTC+14 — just pick your time zones and compare.
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🌍 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!
Browse Time Zone Differences
Compare time zones between major cities worldwide. Find the exact hour difference between New York and London, Tokyo and Sydney, or any other city pair for meetings and travel.
| From | To | Difference | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
China Standard TimeUTC+8 | Australian Eastern Standard TimeUTC+10 | +2h | |
China Standard TimeUTC+8 | Japan Standard TimeUTC+9 | +1h | |
China Standard TimeUTC+8 | Mountain Standard TimeUTC-7 | -15h | |
China Standard TimeUTC+8 | Eastern European TimeUTC+2 | -6h | |
China Standard TimeUTC+8 | Central Standard TimeUTC-6 | -14h | |
China Standard TimeUTC+8 | Pacific Standard TimeUTC-8 | -16h | |
China Standard TimeUTC+8 | Central European TimeUTC+1 | -7h | |
China Standard TimeUTC+8 | Greenwich Mean TimeUTC+0 | -8h | |
China Standard TimeUTC+8 | Eastern Standard TimeUTC-5 | -13h | |
China Standard TimeUTC+8 | Coordinated Universal TimeUTC+0 | -8h |
How Time Zones Work
Need to schedule a call with Tokyo at 9 AM their time? Wondering when London markets open in your local time? Understanding time zones helps you stay connected with people and events around the world.
What Are Time Zones?
The basics of how the world keeps time
The Earth is divided into 24 standard time zones, each represented by a UTC offset — a number indicating hours ahead (+) or behind (-) Coordinated Universal Time. These offsets range from UTC-12 (Baker Island) to UTC+14 (Line Islands, Kiribati).
Common examples: London uses UTC+0 in winter, New York is UTC-5 (Eastern Time), Tokyo is UTC+9, and Sydney is UTC+10 or UTC+11 during daylight saving time.
Not all offsets are whole hours. India uses UTC+5:30, Nepal has UTC+5:45, and the Chatham Islands use UTC+12:45. These half-hour and 45-minute offsets make checking exact time differences essential.
Important: UTC offsets can change seasonally. Countries observing Daylight Saving Time shift their offset by +1 hour in summer — for example, London moves from UTC+0 to UTC+1, and New York from UTC-5 to UTC-4.
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Quick Time Difference Math
A simple way to calculate time differences
To calculate the time difference between two locations, subtract their UTC offsets. The formula is simple: Offset B - Offset A = Hours difference.
UTC Offset Calculation Examples
New York (UTC-5) → Tokyo (UTC+9): 9 - (-5) = +14 hours
London (UTC+0) → Dubai (UTC+4): 4 - 0 = +4 hours
Paris (UTC+1) → New York (UTC-5): -5 - 1 = -6 hours
A positive result means the destination is ahead; negative means it's behind.
Daylight Saving Time affects offsets! When DST is active, the offset shifts by +1 hour. For example, New York changes from UTC-5 (EST) to UTC-4 (EDT), reducing the difference to Tokyo to 13 hours instead of 14.
Pro tip: DST transitions happen on different dates worldwide — the US changes in March/November, Europe in late March/October, and Australia in October/April. Always verify current offsets before scheduling important calls.
For Remote Teams
Tips for working across time zones
Working with colleagues in different time zones? Finding the right meeting time can be tricky, but a few simple strategies make it easier.
- Find overlap hours: Look for 2-3 hours when everyone's awake. Even a small window works for quick syncs.
- Take turns: If someone always joins calls at 6 AM, rotate meeting times so it's fair for everyone.
- Record meetings: Let teammates who can't join live catch up on their own time.
- Write it down: Share decisions in writing so nobody misses important updates.
Many remote teams set "core hours" — a 3-4 hour window when everyone is online at the same time for meetings and quick questions.
For Travelers
Beat jet lag and stay in touch
Flying across time zones? Here's how to adjust faster and avoid accidentally calling home at 3 AM.
- Start early: Shift your bedtime by an hour a few days before you leave.
- Get sunlight: Natural light helps your body clock adjust to the new time zone.
- Switch immediately: When you land, eat and sleep at local times — even if you're tired.
- Skip the caffeine: Water and light meals help you adjust faster than coffee.
Before calling home, do a quick time check. Your 8 PM might be their 4 AM — not the best time for a chat!
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For Global Business
Markets, support, and deadlines
Stock markets around the world never really close — when one market wraps up, another is just opening. Here's when the major trading sessions overlap:
Asian Markets
Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore. Open while Europe and America sleep.
European Markets
London, Frankfurt, Paris. Overlap with Asian close and US open.
American Markets
New York, Chicago. Catch the end of European trading.
Time zones also affect customer support, shipping estimates, and project deadlines. Many global companies use "follow-the-sun" support — handing off tickets from one region to the next as the business day moves around the planet.
A Brief History
From train chaos to world standard
Before time zones, every town set clocks by the sun — noon was when the sun was highest. This worked fine until trains came along. With dozens of "local times," scheduling was a nightmare.
In 1879, Sir Sandford Fleming (a railway engineer who missed a train because of confusing timetables) proposed dividing the world into 24 standard time zones. By 1884, 25 countries agreed to the system we still use today.
The US switched on November 18, 1883 — called "The Day of Two Noons" because many cities had to set clocks back, experiencing noon twice. Some countries still use time zones for political reasons: China spans 5 zones but uses just one, and some islands have jumped across the International Date Line to align with trading partners.
Fascinating Time Zone Facts
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USA's UTC Offsets
The continental US spans 4 offsets: Eastern (UTC-5), Central (UTC-6), Mountain (UTC-7), and Pacific (UTC-8). During DST, each shifts to UTC-4, UTC-5, UTC-6, and UTC-7.
Canada's Unique Offset
Canada uses UTC-3:30 for Newfoundland — one of the few places with a 30-minute offset. Other zones range from UTC-8 (Pacific) to UTC-4 (Atlantic).
Australia's Split Offsets
Australia uses UTC+8 (West), UTC+9:30 (Central), and UTC+10 (East). During summer, eastern states shift to UTC+11, Central to UTC+10:30, while Western Australia stays the same.
UTC+0: The Reference Point
The UK uses UTC+0 (GMT) in winter and UTC+1 (BST) in summer. Greenwich, London is where the Prime Meridian defines the zero offset for all world time zones.
UTC+14 & UTC-12
The extreme offsets: Line Islands (Kiribati) at UTC+14 are first to see each new day, while Baker Island at UTC-12 is last — a 26-hour difference between them.
France: 12 Offsets
With overseas territories, France spans from UTC-10 (French Polynesia) to UTC+12 (Wallis and Futuna) — covering more UTC offsets than any other country.