AKST to EDT Converter
Convert time between Alaska Standard Time (AKST) and Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
Time Difference
Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) is 0 hours ahead of Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
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Quick Reference
| AKST | EDT |
|---|---|
| 17:00 | 21:00 |
| 19:00 | 23:00 |
| 21:00 | 01:00 |
| 23:00 | 03:00 |
| 01:00 | 05:00 |
| 03:00 | 07:00 |
| 05:00 | 09:00 |
| 07:00 | 11:00 |
| 09:00 | 13:00 |
| 11:00 | 15:00 |
| 13:00 | 17:00 |
| 15:00 | 19:00 |
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 EDT Time Conversion
Converting time between Alaska Standard Time (AKST) and Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) is essential for coordinating between Alaska and the US East Coast during daylight saving time. AKST is UTC-9 while EDT is UTC-4, making EDT 5 hours ahead of AKST. This conversion applies from mid-March to early November when the East Coast observes daylight saving time while Alaska remains on AKST.
This conversion is crucial for business operations between Alaska and East Coast cities like New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Miami during the spring, summer, and early fall months. Whether you're scheduling meetings between Anchorage and East Coast headquarters, coordinating business operations, managing customer service, or planning travel, our accurate IANA-based converter ensures precise timezone calculations. The 5-hour difference during the EDT season is the largest among Alaska-US regional pairings and requires careful attention to scheduling to maintain any business hour overlap.
Common Use Cases for AKST to EDT Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling Alaska to East Coast business meetings during spring-summer-fall
- Coordinating between Anchorage and New York/Boston headquarters during daylight hours
- Managing business operations across Alaska and the Eastern United States during EDT season
- Planning conference calls between Alaska and East Coast teams during daylight saving period
Personal & Travel
- Coordinating with family and friends on the US East Coast during daylight saving months
- Planning travel between Alaska and East Coast destinations
- Scheduling virtual events for Alaska-East Coast audiences during spring-summer-fall
- Arranging online meetings with East Coast-based colleagues during EDT season
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)
Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
- UTC Offset: UTC-4
- IANA Timezone: America/New_York
- Daylight Saving: Daylight saving time (second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November)
- Major Cities: New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Miami, Washington D.C.
- Coverage: Eastern United States and Canada (summer months)
Quick Reference: AKST to EDT
Remember: EDT is always 5 hours ahead of AKST during the daylight saving period (mid-March to early November). When EDT ends and EST begins (first Sunday in November), the difference decreases to 4 hours. This is the largest time difference among Alaska-US mainland pairings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between AKST and EDT?
Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is UTC-9, while Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) is UTC-4. This means EDT is 5 hours ahead of AKST. When it's 8:00 AM in Anchorage (AKST), it's 1:00 PM in New York (EDT). This is the largest time difference among Alaska-US mainland timezone pairings.
When does the AKST to EDT conversion apply?
This conversion applies from mid-March to early November when the East Coast observes daylight saving time (EDT) while Alaska remains on AKST. Before mid-March and after early November, Alaska and the East Coast have a 4-hour difference (when East Coast uses EST). This is a seasonal conversion that only applies during the daylight saving months.
Why is the AKST to EDT difference the largest Alaska-US pairing?
The 5-hour difference between AKST and EDT is the largest among Alaska-US mainland timezone pairs. This is because AKST is UTC-9 (the furthest west of mainland US timezones) and EDT is UTC-4 (the furthest east during daylight saving time). The 5-hour gap makes this one of the most challenging Alaska-US regional pairings for any business coordination.
What are the best times to schedule meetings between Alaska and the East Coast during EDT season?
With a 5-hour difference, early morning Alaska time (7-8 AM AKST) aligns with early afternoon East Coast time (12-1 PM EDT), which works for lunch-and-learn meetings. Mid-morning Alaska time (9-10 AM AKST) aligns with mid-afternoon East Coast time (2-3 PM EDT). The large difference makes it difficult to find overlapping morning hours, so early morning Alaska calls are essential.
Which major cities are in these timezones?
AKST covers Alaska's major cities including Anchorage (largest city), Fairbanks, Juneau (capital), Ketchikan, and Sitka. EDT covers major East Coast cities including New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Miami, and Washington D.C. during the daylight saving months (mid-March to early November).
Is AKST to EDT the most difficult Alaska timezone conversion?
Yes, AKST to EDT is the most difficult Alaska-US mainland timezone pairing. The 5-hour difference is the largest, leaving almost no overlapping business hours. Alaska morning (7-10 AM) aligns with East Coast afternoon (12-3 PM). East Coast morning (9 AM) aligns with the middle of the previous night in Alaska (4 AM). This extreme offset makes it nearly impossible to have convenient meeting times for both regions.
Pro Tips
- • The 5-hour AKST to EDT difference is the largest Alaska-US pairing - virtually no overlapping morning hours exist. Early morning Alaska calls (7-8 AM AKST) are the only viable option for East Coast business coordination during summer months.
- • Consider this the ultimate test of timezone coordination. An 8 AM AKST call is 1 PM EDT (lunch time East Coast). A 9 AM AKST call is 2 PM EDT. These are your best windows for East Coast meetings during daylight saving season.
- • Mental math for AKST to EDT: add 5 hours to AKST times during the daylight saving period (mid-March to early November). An 10 AM AKST meeting is 3 PM EDT, a 2 PM AKST meeting is 7 PM EDT (too late).
- • Alaska-East Coast partnerships during summer months should prioritize asynchronous communication. The 5-hour difference makes real-time meetings extremely inconvenient for establishing consistent schedules.
- • For video calls, the 7-9 AM AKST window (12-2 PM EDT) is your only viable business hour overlap. A 10 AM AKST call is 3 PM EDT - cutting into afternoon productivity on the East Coast.
- • When planning annual meetings between Alaska and East Coast offices, schedule during winter months (Nov-March) when the 4-hour EST difference applies, or use asynchronous formats for summer (March-Nov) when the 5-hour EDT gap is insurmountable.
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