Americas · Central America · Sovereign state
Current time in Belize
A single time zone at UTC-06:00.
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
About Belize's time
A single time zone.
Belize uses a single time zone, Central Standard Time (UTC-6), all year and does not observe daylight saving time.
Major cities
Cities of Belize.
History
How Belize keeps time.
Belize, formerly British Honduras (a British colony until 1981), adopted Central Standard Time (UTC-6) during the 20th century, aligning with the broader Central American and North American convention rather than the UTC-5 or UTC-4 zones used by neighboring Caribbean island nations. For decades the colony moved its clocks forward half an hour to UTC-05:30 most winters (1918–1942 and 1947–1968), and it kept wartime time (UTC-05:00) from 1942 to 1945. Belize tried a full hour of daylight saving time in the winters of 1973–74 and 1982–83, but did not keep it, as daylight hours vary relatively little that far south. Since then, Belize has remained firmly on year-round CST (UTC-6), matching the time of neighboring Guatemala and providing a stable, predictable clock that suits both local life and its tourism-dependent economy.
Did you know?
Things about Belize's time.
Belize sees relatively little seasonal variation in sunrise and sunset times due to its location about 17° north of the equator, which is a key reason daylight saving time has never caught on. Sunrise falls between about 5:20 and 6:30 AM and sunset between about 5:15 and 6:35 PM through the year.
Tourism operators in Belize appreciate the single, consistent time zone, especially when coordinating scuba trips, ferry services, and international flights from Houston and Dallas, which share Belize's clock time during North American winter.
Belize shares its UTC-6 offset with neighboring Guatemala and most of Mexico, strengthening its Central American identity rather than following the UTC-5 used by the Cayman Islands and Jamaica.
Convert
Belize to the world's clocks.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Belize's time zone, daylight saving rules, and how to handle it in software. Can't find what you need? Email [email protected].
- What time zone is Belize in?
- Belize observes Central Standard Time (CST) with a fixed offset of UTC−06:00 year-round. It does not observe daylight saving time.
- Does Belize observe daylight saving time?
- No. Belize has stayed on UTC−06:00 all year since 1983. It used half-hour winter daylight saving time for decades before 1968 and tried a full hour in 1973–74 and 1982–83, but did not keep it.
- Is Belize time the same as U.S. Central Time?
- Only during North American winter, from early November to mid-March, when U.S. Central Standard Time is in effect. During U.S. daylight saving time (mid-March to early November), U.S. Central Daylight Time is UTC−05:00, making it one hour ahead of Belize.
- What time is sunrise and sunset in Belize?
- Due to Belize's proximity to the equator, sunrise and sunset times are remarkably consistent year-round—typically sunrise between about 5:20 and 6:30 AM and sunset between about 5:15 and 6:35 PM local time.
- How does Belize's time zone affect travel from the United States?
- Travelers from cities like Houston and Dallas will find the time matches their own during North American winter months, simplifying jet lag and itinerary planning. Forward planning is needed for spring and summer trips, when those U.S. cities jump one hour ahead of Belize.
- Does Belize share its time zone with neighboring countries?
- Yes. Belize shares UTC−06:00 with neighboring Guatemala. It aligns with Central American timekeeping rather than the UTC−4 Caribbean island zones found nearby.
Source: IANA tzdb2026d · Reviewed
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