Alaska Standard Time

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about AKST, daylight saving, and how to handle it in software. Can't find what you need? Email [email protected].

Is Alaska Standard Time always 9 hours behind UTC?

No — during daylight saving time (March to November), AKST jumps to AKDT, shifting to UTC-08:00.

Do all Alaskan cities switch to AKDT in summer?

Yes — Anchorage, Juneau, Nome, Sitka, Yakutat, and Metlakatla all observe daylight saving time and are currently on AKDT.

When does Alaska switch back from AKDT to AKST?

The next transition is scheduled for 2026-11-01 01:00:00 AKDT.

How many different time zones does Alaska have?

There are six member zones in total, each representing a different locality within Alaska.

Why does Alaska have its own time zone code?

Alaska's longitude spans 123° to 172° W, and the extreme variation in daylight between summer and winter months makes a dedicated time zone necessary.

Is Alaska the only US state in this time zone?

Yes, only the state of Alaska uses AKST/AKDT as its primary time zone.

What are the daylight saving hours like in Alaska?

Alaskan communities experience the most extreme variations in daylight in the US — in summer the sun barely sets, while winter brings prolonged darkness.

Is Metlakatla the same as the rest of Alaska in terms of DST?

Metlakatla is the only community in Alaska that elected to stay on Pacific Time, but it still follows DST and is currently on AKDT.