Americas · North America · Sovereign state
Current time in United States
Spans 8 time zones from UTC-10:00 to UTC-04:00, a 6-hour difference. 27 of 29 zones currently in DST.
Wednesday, July 15, 2026
About United States's time
8 time zones.
The U.S. has a complex tapestry of 29 time zones across states and territories, each with its own story. Most follow DST rules, but a couple of notable exceptions stand out.
Next clock change
2026 Sunday · clocks fall back
Clocks fall back by one hour · in 4 months.
Affects 27 of 29 zones.
Daylight saving schedule
By time zone
Time zones of United States.
8 time zones
Major cities
Cities of United States.
Territories & dependencies
The Republic, around the world.
History
How United States keeps time.
- The U.S. standardized time zones in 1883 due to railroad schedules. - Indiana was historically split, with some regions adhering to Central Time and others to Eastern Time until 2006, when it adopted DST statewide. - Most territories like Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands do not observe DST.
Did you know?
Things about United States's time.
- The presence of 29 time zones highlights the vast geographic span of the U.S., leading to unusual complexities in scheduling. - Some territories, like Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, use different standard times not found in the contiguous states. - Guam uses Chamorro Standard Time (UTC+10:00), a zone not shared by any mainland U.S. regions.
Convert
United States to the world's clocks.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about United States's time zone, daylight saving rules, and how to handle it in software. Can't find what you need? Email [email protected].
- Why does Indiana have different time zones historically?
- Before 2006, some parts of Indiana did not observe DST, leading to varied practices within the state. Since 2006, the whole state observes DST.
- What time zone is Guam in?
- Guam uses Chamorro Standard Time (UTC+10:00), which is distinct and primarily used in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.
- Do all U.S. territories observe daylight saving time?
- Not all U.S. territories observe DST. Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, for example, do not observe DST.
- How many time zones are in the U.S.?
- There are 29 time zones, but territories often use unique time zones not found in the lower 48 states.
- What are the exceptions to DST in the U.S.?
- Hawaii and most of Arizona do not observe daylight saving time, making it an exception.
- Why does the U.S. have so many time zones?
- The size of the country extends into various longitudes, creating several standard times and additional complexities with DST.
- What's unique about Indiana's time zone history?
- Indiana was historically split between using Central and Eastern Time, reflecting its position between different zones, that's changed with statewide DST usage since 2006.
- Are there U.S. territories that don't align with standard U.S. time zones?
- Yes, territories have unique time zones (e.g., Chamorro Standard Time: UTC+10:00) not used in the contiguous U.S.
Free · Developer API
Time, as JSON.
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