AKST to PDT Converter
Convert time between Alaska Standard Time (AKST) and Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)
Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)
Time Difference
Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) is 0 hours ahead of Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| AKST | PDT |
|---|---|
| 17:00 | 18:00 |
| 19:00 | 20:00 |
| 21:00 | 22:00 |
| 23:00 | 00:00 |
| 01:00 | 02:00 |
| 03:00 | 04:00 |
| 05:00 | 06:00 |
| 07:00 | 08:00 |
| 09:00 | 10:00 |
| 11:00 | 12:00 |
| 13:00 | 14:00 |
| 15:00 | 16:00 |
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 PDT Time Conversion
Converting time between Alaska Standard Time (AKST) and Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) is essential for coordinating between Alaska and the US Pacific Coast during daylight saving time. AKST is UTC-9 while PDT is UTC-7, making PDT 2 hours ahead of AKST. This conversion occurs from mid-March to early November when the Pacific region observes daylight saving time while Alaska remains on AKST.
This conversion is crucial for business operations between Alaska and the Pacific Coast during the spring, summer, and early fall months. Whether you're scheduling meetings between Anchorage and Los Angeles/San Francisco, coordinating business operations, managing customer service, or planning travel, our accurate IANA-based converter ensures precise timezone calculations. The 2-hour difference during this period requires careful attention to scheduling to maintain productive business hour overlap.
Common Use Cases for AKST to PDT Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling Alaska to US Pacific Coast business meetings during spring-summer-fall
- Coordinating between Anchorage and Los Angeles/San Francisco offices
- Managing business operations across Alaska and the West Coast during PDT season
- Planning conference calls between Alaska and Pacific Coast teams during daylight hours
Personal & Travel
- Coordinating with family and friends in Alaska and the Pacific region during DST period
- Planning travel between Alaska and the Pacific Coast
- Scheduling virtual events for Alaska-Pacific audiences during daylight saving months
- Arranging online meetings with Alaska-based colleagues during PDT 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)
Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)
- UTC Offset: UTC-7
- IANA Timezone: America/Los_Angeles
- Daylight Saving: Daylight saving time (second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November)
- Major Cities: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, San Diego
- Coverage: Pacific Coast of United States and Canada (summer months)
Quick Reference: AKST to PDT
Remember: PDT is always 2 hours ahead of AKST during the daylight saving period (mid-March to early November). When PDT ends and PST begins (first Sunday in November), the difference decreases to 1 hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between AKST and PDT?
Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is UTC-9, while Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) is UTC-7. This means PDT is 2 hours ahead of AKST. When it's 8:00 AM in Anchorage (AKST), it's 10:00 AM on the Pacific Coast (PDT).
When does the AKST to PDT conversion apply?
This conversion applies from mid-March to early November when the Pacific region observes daylight saving time (PDT) while Alaska remains on AKST. Before mid-March and after early November, Alaska and the Pacific region have a 1-hour difference (when Pacific uses PST) or no difference (when Alaska uses AKDT during daylight saving).
Why does Alaska not observe daylight saving time like the Pacific region?
Alaska does observe daylight saving time, but during a different window than most of the continental US. Alaska transitions to AKDT (Alaska Daylight Time, UTC-8) from mid-March to early November, which is the same dates as the Pacific region. However, during winter (November to March), Alaska stays on AKST while the Pacific region transitions to PST.
What is the best time to schedule meetings between Alaska and the Pacific Coast?
With a 2-hour difference, early morning Alaska time (7-9 AM AKST) aligns with mid-morning Pacific time (9-11 AM PDT). This overlaps well with business hours on both sides. Evening Alaska time (5-7 PM AKST) aligns with evening Pacific time (7-9 PM PDT), though less ideal. Mid-day PST (12-3 PM) aligns with only early morning AKST (10 AM-1 PM).
Which major cities are in these timezones?
AKST covers Alaska's major cities including Anchorage (largest city), Fairbanks, Juneau (capital), Ketchikan, and Sitka. PDT covers US Pacific Coast cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, and San Diego, as well as Canadian cities like Vancouver and Victoria.
What happens when daylight saving time ends?
When daylight saving time ends on the first Sunday in November, the Pacific region transitions from PDT to PST (UTC-8), while Alaska remains on AKST (UTC-9). This changes the time difference from 2 hours to 1 hour. When Alaska transitions to AKDT in mid-March, both regions are back on daylight saving time, and the difference increases to 2 hours again.
Pro Tips
- • The 2-hour difference between AKST and PDT is one of the easier Alaska-US region combinations. A simple mental math of adding 2 hours makes scheduling much easier than Alaska-Eastern region coordination.
- • Mark your calendar for key transitions: mid-March (both go to daylight time, difference stays 2 hours), and early November (Pacific goes back to standard time, difference changes to 1 hour).
- • Early morning calls in Alaska (7-9 AM AKST) are ideal for Pacific Coast coordination, translating to 9-11 AM PDT, which is within productive morning hours for both regions.
- • Alaska tech companies coordinating with Silicon Valley should note that while PDT overlaps exist, they're limited compared to other timezone pairs. Plan important meetings well in advance.
- • During video calls, remember that a 6 PM AKST meeting is 8 PM PDT - reasonable for the Pacific region but late evening. A 9 AM AKST meeting is 11 AM PDT, better for both sides.
- • Use the quick reference conversion as a mental anchor: 12 PM AKST = 2 PM PDT. This noon-to-2 PM reference helps you quickly estimate other times during the PDT season.
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