AKST to MDT Converter
Convert time between Alaska Standard Time (AKST) and Mountain Daylight Time (MDT)
Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
Mountain Daylight Time (MDT)
Time Difference
Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) is 0 hours ahead of Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
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Select Time
Quick Reference
| AKST | MDT |
|---|---|
| 17:00 | 19:00 |
| 19:00 | 21:00 |
| 21:00 | 23:00 |
| 23:00 | 01:00 |
| 01:00 | 03:00 |
| 03:00 | 05:00 |
| 05:00 | 07:00 |
| 07:00 | 09:00 |
| 09:00 | 11:00 |
| 11:00 | 13:00 |
| 13:00 | 15:00 |
| 15:00 | 17:00 |
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 MDT Time Conversion
Converting time between Alaska Standard Time (AKST) and Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) is essential for coordinating between Alaska and the US Mountain region during daylight saving time. AKST is UTC-9 while MDT is UTC-6, making MDT 3 hours ahead of AKST. This conversion applies from mid-March to early November when the Mountain region observes daylight saving time while Alaska remains on AKST.
This conversion is crucial for business operations between Alaska and Mountain region cities like Denver, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, and Boise during the spring, summer, and early fall months. Whether you're scheduling meetings between Anchorage and Denver headquarters, coordinating business operations, managing customer service, or planning travel, our accurate IANA-based converter ensures precise timezone calculations. The 3-hour difference during the MDT season requires careful attention to scheduling to maintain optimal business hour overlap between Alaska and the Mountain region.
Common Use Cases for AKST to MDT Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling Alaska to Mountain region business meetings during spring-summer-fall
- Coordinating between Anchorage and Denver headquarters during daylight hours
- Managing business operations across Alaska and the Rocky Mountain region during MDT season
- Planning conference calls between Alaska and Mountain region teams during daylight saving period
Personal & Travel
- Coordinating with family and friends in the Mountain region during daylight saving months
- Planning travel between Alaska and Mountain region destinations
- Scheduling virtual events for Alaska-Mountain audiences during spring-summer-fall
- Arranging online meetings with Mountain-based colleagues during MDT 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)
Mountain Daylight Time (MDT)
- UTC Offset: UTC-6
- IANA Timezone: America/Denver
- Daylight Saving: Daylight saving time (second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November)
- Major Cities: Denver, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, Boise, Phoenix
- Coverage: Rocky Mountain region of United States and Canada (summer months)
Quick Reference: AKST to MDT
Remember: MDT is always 3 hours ahead of AKST during the daylight saving period (mid-March to early November). When MDT ends and MST begins (first Sunday in November), the difference decreases to 2 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between AKST and MDT?
Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is UTC-9, while Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) is UTC-6. This means MDT is 3 hours ahead of AKST. When it's 8:00 AM in Anchorage (AKST), it's 11:00 AM in Denver (MDT).
When does the AKST to MDT conversion apply?
This conversion applies from mid-March to early November when the Mountain region observes daylight saving time (MDT) while Alaska remains on AKST. Before mid-March and after early November, Alaska and the Mountain region have a 2-hour difference (when Mountain uses MST) or no difference (when Alaska uses AKDT during daylight saving).
Why does Alaska stay on AKST while the Mountain region uses MDT?
Alaska has a unique daylight saving schedule. The state doesn't observe daylight saving during the transition months when much of the continental US does. Alaska transitions from AKST to AKDT on the second Sunday in March (same as the Mountain region), but since Alaska uses UTC-8 during AKDT, it eventually aligns with other regions during full daylight hours.
What are the best times to schedule meetings between Alaska and the Mountain region during MDT season?
With a 3-hour difference, early morning Alaska time (8-10 AM AKST) aligns with late morning Mountain time (11 AM-1 PM MDT), which is ideal for business discussions. Late afternoon Alaska time (2-5 PM AKST) aligns with early evening Mountain time (5-8 PM MDT). Mid-day Mountain time (12-3 PM MDT) aligns with only early morning Alaska time (9 AM-12 PM AKST).
Which major cities are in these timezones?
AKST covers Alaska's major cities including Anchorage (largest city), Fairbanks, Juneau (capital), Ketchikan, and Sitka. MDT covers Mountain region cities including Denver (capital of Colorado), Salt Lake City (Utah), Albuquerque (New Mexico), Boise (Idaho), and Phoenix (Arizona) during daylight saving months.
What happens when daylight saving time ends?
When daylight saving time ends on the first Sunday in November, the Mountain region transitions from MDT to MST (UTC-7), while Alaska remains on AKST (UTC-9). This changes the time difference from 3 hours to 2 hours. The 3-hour difference only applies during the MDT season (mid-March to early November).
Pro Tips
- • The 3-hour AKST to MDT difference applies only during the daylight saving period (mid-March to early November). Before and after these dates, the difference is 2 hours, so mark your calendar for the transition dates.
- • Early morning calls in Alaska (8-10 AM AKST) are perfect for Mountain region coordination, translating to 11 AM-1 PM MDT, which is within the most productive meeting hours for business discussions.
- • Mental math for AKST to MDT is straightforward: add 3 hours to AKST times. A 9 AM AKST meeting is 12 PM (noon) MDT, a 12 PM AKST meeting is 3 PM MDT, and so on.
- • For Alaska tech companies coordinating with Mountain region offices during summer months, the 3-hour difference is manageable. Plan important meetings between 8 AM-12 PM AKST for optimal Mountain region business hours.
- • During video calls, a 9 AM AKST meeting is 12 PM MDT (noon) - great for lunch-and-learn sessions. A 2 PM AKST meeting is 5 PM MDT, perfect for end-of-day syncs on the Mountain side.
- • Use the quick reference conversion as a mental anchor: 8 AM AKST = 11 AM MDT, 12 PM AKST = 3 PM MDT. These simple references help you quickly estimate other times during the MDT season.
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