AKST to AST Converter
Convert time between Alaska Standard Time (AKST) and Atlantic Standard Time (AST)
Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
Atlantic Standard Time (AST)
Time Difference
Atlantic Standard Time (AST) is 0 hours ahead of Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
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Select Time
Quick Reference
| AKST | AST |
|---|---|
| 17:00 | 22:00 |
| 19:00 | 00:00 |
| 21:00 | 02:00 |
| 23:00 | 04:00 |
| 01:00 | 06:00 |
| 03:00 | 08:00 |
| 05:00 | 10:00 |
| 07:00 | 12:00 |
| 09:00 | 14:00 |
| 11:00 | 16:00 |
| 13:00 | 18:00 |
| 15:00 | 20:00 |
Top 10 Most Common Time Zones
| Abbreviation | Full Name | UTC Offset | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| UTC | Coordinated Universal Time | UTC ±0 | Global reference standard (servers, logs, APIs) |
| EST / EDT | Eastern (US) Time | UTC −5 / −4 | New York, Toronto — North American business hub |
| CST / CDT | Central (US) Time | UTC −6 / −5 | Chicago, Dallas — US central business region |
| PST / PDT | Pacific (US) Time | UTC −8 / −7 | San Francisco, Los Angeles — tech industry standard |
| GMT / BST | Greenwich Mean / British Summer Time | UTC 0 / +1 | UK, used globally as a reference with UTC |
| CET / CEST | Central European (Summer) Time | UTC +1 / +2 | Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam — EU business core |
| IST | India Standard Time | UTC +5:30 | India — major IT & outsourcing region |
| CST | China Standard Time | UTC +8 | Beijing, Shanghai — East Asia business hub |
| JST | Japan Standard Time | UTC +9 | Tokyo — finance & tech hub |
| AEST / AEDT | Australian Eastern (Daylight) Time | UTC +10 / +11 | Sydney, Melbourne — APAC regional business |
Why Time Zone Abbreviations Are Ambiguous
Unlike standardized identifiers (like America/New_York or Europe/London from the IANA tz database), abbreviations such as "CST" or "IST" are not globally unique. They can refer to different time zones depending on context — country, region, or even time of year (due to daylight saving time).
Common Ambiguous Time Zone Abbreviations
| Abbrev. | Common Meaning(s) | UTC Offset | Region(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CST | Central Standard Time / China Standard Time / Cuba Standard Time | UTC−6 / UTC+8 / UTC−5 | North America, China, Cuba |
| IST | Indian Standard Time / Irish Standard Time / Israel Standard Time | UTC+5:30 / UTC+1 / UTC+2 | India, Ireland, Israel |
| AST | Atlantic Standard Time / Arabia Standard Time | UTC−4 / UTC+3 | Caribbean, Canada, Middle East |
| PST | Pacific Standard Time / Philippine Standard Time | UTC−8 / UTC+8 | North America, Philippines |
| EST | Eastern Standard Time (North America / Australia) | UTC−5 / UTC+10 | North America, Australia |
✅ Best Practice
To avoid ambiguity, always:
- Use IANA tz identifiers — e.g.,
America/New_Yorkinstead of "EST" - Specify UTC offset explicitly — e.g.,
UTC−5when abbreviations must be used - Include the full timezone name — e.g., "Eastern Standard Time (EST)" with UTC offset
Related Time Zone Conversions
About AKST to AST Time Conversion
Converting time between Alaska Standard Time (AKST) and Atlantic Standard Time (AST) is essential for coordinating between Alaska and Atlantic Canada. AKST is UTC-9 while AST is UTC-4, making AST 5 hours ahead of AKST. Unlike most North American regions, Atlantic Canada does not observe daylight saving time year-round, maintaining a consistent 5-hour difference throughout the entire year.
This conversion is crucial for business operations between Alaska and Atlantic Canada cities like Halifax, Saint John, and St. John's. Whether you're scheduling meetings between Anchorage and Halifax headquarters, coordinating business operations, managing customer service, or planning travel, our accurate IANA-based converter ensures precise timezone calculations. The constant 5-hour difference year-round (unlike EDT which changes seasonally) provides predictability for long-term business planning between Alaska and Atlantic Canada regions.
Common Use Cases for AKST to AST Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling Alaska to Atlantic Canada business meetings
- Coordinating between Anchorage and Halifax/Saint John headquarters
- Managing business operations across Alaska and Atlantic Canada
- Planning conference calls between Alaska and Atlantic Canadian teams
Personal & Travel
- Coordinating with family and friends in Atlantic Canada
- Planning travel between Alaska and Atlantic Canada destinations
- Scheduling virtual events for Alaska-Atlantic Canada audiences
- Arranging online meetings with Atlantic Canadian colleagues
Time Zone Information
Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-9
- IANA Timezone: America/Anchorage
- Daylight Saving: Standard time (first Sunday in November to second Sunday in March)
- Major Cities: Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka
- Coverage: Alaska (winter months)
Atlantic Standard Time (AST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-4
- IANA Timezone: America/Halifax
- Daylight Saving: No daylight saving time (constant year-round)
- Major Cities: Halifax, Saint John, St. John's, Moncton, Thunder Bay
- Coverage: Atlantic Canada (year-round - no DST)
Quick Reference: AKST to AST
Remember: AST is always 5 hours ahead of AKST year-round. Unlike EDT which changes seasonally, AST maintains this 5-hour difference consistently because Atlantic Canada does not observe daylight saving time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between AKST and AST?
Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is UTC-9, while Atlantic Standard Time (AST) is UTC-4. This means AST is 5 hours ahead of AKST. When it's 8:00 AM in Anchorage (AKST), it's 1:00 PM in Halifax (AST). This 5-hour difference is consistent year-round.
Why is AKST to AST unique compared to other AKST conversions?
AKST to AST is unique because both regions maintain a consistent 5-hour difference year-round. Unlike EDT which changes seasonally, Atlantic Canada does not observe daylight saving time. This means the AKST to AST conversion remains constant at 5 hours every day of the year, providing predictability for business planning.
Does Atlantic Canada observe daylight saving time?
No, Atlantic Canada (specifically the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick) does not observe daylight saving time. Atlantic Standard Time (AST) remains UTC-4 throughout the entire year, unlike most of North America which switches between standard and daylight time.
What are the best times to schedule meetings between Alaska and Atlantic Canada?
With a consistent 5-hour difference year-round, early morning Alaska time (7-8 AM AKST) aligns with early afternoon Atlantic time (12-1 PM AST), which works well for lunch meetings. Mid-morning Alaska time (9-10 AM AKST) aligns with mid-afternoon Atlantic time (2-3 PM AST). The advantage over the US East Coast is that the timing is consistent throughout the year.
Which major cities are in Atlantic Standard Time?
Major Atlantic Canada cities in AST include Halifax (Nova Scotia - largest city), Saint John (New Brunswick), St. John's (Newfoundland and Labrador), Moncton (New Brunswick), and Corner Brook (Newfoundland and Labrador). These cities maintain AST year-round without switching to daylight saving time.
Is AKST to AST better for business coordination than AKST to EDT?
AKST to AST is better for long-term business planning because the 5-hour difference remains constant year-round. With AKST to EDT, you have to manage the seasonal change from a 4-hour winter difference to a 5-hour summer difference. The consistency of AST makes it easier to establish recurring meeting schedules that don't need to change with daylight saving transitions.
Pro Tips
- • The 5-hour AKST to AST difference is consistent year-round thanks to Atlantic Canada not observing daylight saving time. This is a major advantage for recurring meetings - no need to adjust times in March and November.
- • Early morning Alaska calls (7-8 AM AKST) are perfect for Atlantic Canada coordination, landing at 12-1 PM AST, ideal for lunch-and-learn sessions or mid-day business discussions.
- • Mental math for AKST to AST: add 5 hours to AKST times. An 8 AM AKST meeting is 1 PM AST, a 10 AM AKST meeting is 3 PM AST. This rule applies consistently every single day of the year.
- • Unlike coordinating with the US East Coast where you need separate spring/summer and fall/winter meeting schedules, AKST to AST meetings never change. Set them once and they work year-round.
- • For video calls, the 7-10 AM AKST window (12-3 PM AST) provides consistent business hour overlap every day of the year. A 9 AM AKST call is always 2 PM AST, making scheduling predictable.
- • When establishing Alaska-Atlantic Canada business partnerships, the year-round consistency is a significant advantage. You won't need to adjust meeting times twice yearly like you would with US East Coast coordination.
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