Also known as: Eastern Standard Time (EST) and Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
The term Eastern Time (ET) is often used to denote the local time in areas observing either Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) or Eastern Standard Time (EST).
In other words, in locations observing Daylight Saving Time (DST) during part of the year, Eastern Time is not static but switches between EDT and EST.
Eastern Time UTC Offset
Eastern Standard Time is 5 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
Eastern Daylight Time is 4 hours behind UTC.
See Time Zone Map
What Is Eastern Time?
Eastern Time (ET) is the easternmost time zone in the United States. It is also used in Canada.
Almost half of the population in the USA live in the ET time zone. It spans from northern Canada and all the way south to Panama near the equator.
In North America, Eastern Time shares a border with Atlantic Time (AT) in the east and with Central Time (CT) in the west.
What Does ET Time Zone Mean?
Unlike other time zone denominations, which have a fixed time, Eastern Time refers to a geographical area where the time changes twice yearly as Daylight Saving Time (DST) begins and ends. Eastern Standard Time is UTC-5, while Eastern Daylight Time is UTC-4.
Most North American time zones also have generic terms, including Pacific Time (PT), Mountain Time (MT), Central Time (CT), and Atlantic Time (AT).
Converting Eastern Time to Other US Time Zones
- Eastern Time (ET) is 1 hour ahead of Central Time (CT).
To convert ET to CT, you have to subtract one hour. - Eastern Time (ET) is 2 hours ahead of Mountain Time (MT).
To convert ET to MT, you have to subtract two hours. - Eastern Time (ET) is 3 hours ahead of Pacific Time (PT).
To convert ET to PT, you have to subtract three hours.
Time Zone Converter: UTC to ET
Where and when is Eastern Time observed?
North America
US states using EST in the winter and EDT in the summer
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida - Southern/Eastern parts Show
except Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Holmes, Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton and Washington counties and norther Gulf county - look in CST/CDT
- Georgia
- Indiana - all except for these north-western counties near Chicago (Lake, Porter, La Porte, Newton, Jasper, Starke) and these south-western counties in Indiana near Evansville Show
Gibson, Posey, Vanderburgh, Warrick, Perry
- Kentucky - eastern parts Show
counties of Anderson, Bath, Bell, Boone, Bourbon, Boyd, Boyle, Bracken, Breathitt, Bullitt, Campbell, Carroll, Carter, Casey, Clark, Clay, Elliott, Estill, Fayette, Fleming, Floyd, Franklin, Gallatin, Garrard, Grant, Greenup, Hanco*ck, Hansock, Hardin, Harlan, Harrison, Henry, Jackson, Jefferson, Jessamine, Johnson, Kenton, Knott, Knox, Larue, Laurel, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Lincoln, Madison, Magoffin, Marion, Martin, Mason, McCreary, Meade, Menifee, Mercer, Montgomery, Morgan, Nelson, Nicholas, Oldham, Owen, Owsley, Pendleton, Perry, Pike, Powell, Pulaski, Robertson, Rockcastle, Rowan, Scott, Shelby, Spencer, Taylor, Trimble, Washington, Wayne, Whitley, Wolfe, Woodford
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan - most except these western counties Show
Dickinson, Gogebic, Iron, and Menominee - which are on CST/CDT
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee - eastern counties Show
Anderson, Blount, Bradley, Campbell, Carter, Claiborne, co*cke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hamilton, Hanco*ck, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Loudon, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Polk, Rhea, Roane, Scott, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi, Union, and Washington
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
Canadian provinces/territories using EST in the winter and EDT in the summer
- Nunavut - most of it Show
except Kugluktuk, Cambridge Bay - CST/CDT and Southampton Island (Coral Harbor) EST all year
- Ontario - most parts east of 90 West and two communities west of 90 West Show
Shebandowan, Upsala
- Quebec - most of it Show
except East of 63 West, Blanc Sablon which observe AST all year
Caribbean
Caribbean countries using EST in the winter and EDT in the summer
- Bahamas
- Haiti
EST all year round
Some locations, such as the ones below don't switch and are in EST all year long.
North America
Canadian provinces/territories using EST all year
- Nunavut - Southampton Island only (Coral Harbour)
Mexican states using EST all year
- Quintana Roo
Caribbean
Caribbean countries using EST all year
- Cayman Islands
- Jamaica
Central America
Central American countries using EST all year
- Panama
