AKST to MST Converter
Convert time between Alaska Standard Time (AKST) and Mountain Standard Time (MST)
Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
Mountain Standard Time (MST)
Time Difference
Mountain Standard Time (MST) is 0 hours ahead of Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| AKST | MST |
|---|---|
| 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 MST Time Conversion
Converting time between Alaska Standard Time (AKST) and Mountain Standard Time (MST) is essential for coordinating between Alaska and the US Mountain region. AKST is UTC-9 while MST is UTC-7, making MST 2 hours ahead of AKST. This conversion applies during winter months (November to March) when both regions are on standard time, not daylight saving time.
This conversion is crucial for business operations between Alaska and Mountain region cities like Denver, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, and Boise. 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. During spring and summer months (March to November), when both regions transition to daylight time (AKDT and MDT), the difference remains 2 hours, making this pairing convenient year-round for Alaska-Mountain coordination.
Common Use Cases for AKST to MST Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling Alaska to Mountain region business meetings
- Coordinating between Anchorage and Denver headquarters
- Managing business operations across Alaska and the Rocky Mountain region
- Planning conference calls between Alaska and Mountain region teams
Personal & Travel
- Coordinating with family and friends in the Mountain region
- Planning travel between Alaska and Mountain region destinations
- Scheduling virtual events for Alaska-Mountain audiences
- Arranging online meetings with Mountain-based 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)
Mountain Standard Time (MST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-7
- IANA Timezone: America/Denver
- Daylight Saving: Standard time (first Sunday in November to second Sunday in March)
- Major Cities: Denver, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, Boise, Phoenix
- Coverage: Rocky Mountain region of United States and Canada (winter months)
Quick Reference: AKST to MST
Remember: MST is always 2 hours ahead of AKST during winter months (November-March). When both regions transition to daylight time (AKDT and MDT in spring), the difference remains 2 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between AKST and MST?
Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is UTC-9, while Mountain Standard Time (MST) is UTC-7. This means MST is 2 hours ahead of AKST. When it's 9:00 AM in Anchorage (AKST), it's 11:00 AM in Denver (MST).
Does this difference change throughout the year?
No, the difference remains constant at 2 hours throughout the entire year. Both AKST and MST are standard time designations, and both regions transition to daylight time on the same dates (second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November). When both switch to AKDT and MDT respectively, the 2-hour difference is maintained.
When do daylight saving time transitions occur?
Both Alaska and the Mountain region follow the same daylight saving schedule: the transition to daylight time occurs on the second Sunday in March, and the transition back to standard time occurs on the first Sunday in November. This consistent schedule means the 2-hour difference stays the same year-round.
What are the best times to schedule meetings between Alaska and the Mountain region?
With a consistent 2-hour difference throughout the year, coordination is straightforward. Early morning calls in Alaska (7-9 AM AKST) align with 9-11 AM MST, which is ideal morning business hours. Afternoon calls (2-5 PM AKST) align with 4-7 PM MST, covering late afternoon on both sides. The constant time difference makes scheduling much easier than with regions that have different DST schedules.
Which major cities are in these timezones?
AKST covers Alaska's major cities including Anchorage (largest city), Fairbanks, Juneau (capital), Ketchikan, and Sitka. MST covers Mountain region cities including Denver (capital of Colorado), Salt Lake City (Utah), Albuquerque (New Mexico), Boise (Idaho), and Phoenix (Arizona).
Why is Alaska-Mountain coordination easier than Alaska-Pacific coordination?
The key advantage is consistency. The AKST-MST difference remains 2 hours year-round because both regions transition to daylight time on the same dates. In contrast, Alaska-Pacific coordination is complicated because Alaska doesn't observe daylight saving during the same periods as the Pacific region during transition months. This makes the Alaska-Mountain pairing ideal for long-term business planning and scheduling.
Pro Tips
- • The consistent 2-hour difference throughout the year is AKST to MST's greatest advantage. Unlike other Alaska-US timezone pairs, you never need to worry about seasonal changes affecting your meeting schedules.
- • Early morning Alaska meetings (7-9 AM AKST) are perfect for Mountain region coordination, hitting the optimal 9-11 AM slot which is ideal for productive business discussions on both sides.
- • The fixed 2-hour difference makes mental math easy. Simply add 2 hours to AKST times to get MST times. A 3 PM AKST meeting is always 5 PM MST, no exceptions.
- • Alaska-Mountain business partnerships benefit from the year-round consistency. Unlike Asia-US or other global partnerships, you can schedule recurring meetings without worrying about daylight saving transitions.
- • For video calls, a 10 AM AKST meeting is 12 PM MST (noon) - great for quick stand-ups. A 2 PM AKST meeting is 4 PM MST, perfect for end-of-day syncs on both sides.
- • When planning quarterly business reviews or annual meetings between Alaska and Mountain region offices, the predictable 2-hour difference year-round reduces scheduling complexity significantly.
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