AKST to PST Converter
Convert time between Alaska Standard Time (AKST) and Pacific Standard Time (PST)
Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
Pacific Standard Time (PST)
Time Difference
Pacific Standard Time (PST) is 0 hours ahead of Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| AKST | PST |
|---|---|
| 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 PST Time Conversion
Converting time between Alaska Standard Time (AKST) and Pacific Standard Time (PST) is essential for coordinating between Alaska and the US Pacific Coast. AKST is UTC-9 while PST is UTC-8, making PST 1 hour ahead of AKST. Unlike the Pacific region which observes daylight saving time (PDT, UTC-7), Alaska remains on AKST throughout winter months (November to March) without daylight saving time during this period.
This conversion is crucial for business operations between Alaska and the Pacific Coast. 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. During the overlapping periods when Alaska transitions to AKDT and Pacific to PDT, the difference changes to 2 hours, making this conversion essential for seamless Alaska-Pacific coordination.
Common Use Cases for AKST to PST Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling Alaska to US Pacific Coast business meetings
- Coordinating between Anchorage and Los Angeles/San Francisco offices
- Managing business operations across Alaska and the West Coast
- Planning conference calls between Alaska and Pacific Coast teams
Personal & Travel
- Coordinating with family and friends in Alaska and the Pacific region
- Planning travel between Alaska and the Pacific Coast
- Scheduling virtual events for Alaska-Pacific audiences
- Arranging online meetings with Alaska-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)
Pacific Standard Time (PST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-8
- IANA Timezone: America/Los_Angeles
- Daylight Saving: Standard time (first Sunday in November to second Sunday in March)
- Major Cities: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, San Diego
- Coverage: Pacific Coast of United States and Canada (winter months)
Quick Reference: AKST to PST
Remember: PST is always 1 hour ahead of AKST. When both regions transition to daylight saving time (AKDT and PDT in spring), the difference becomes 2 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between AKST and PST?
Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is UTC-9, while Pacific Standard Time (PST) is UTC-8. This means PST is 1 hour ahead of AKST. When it's 9:00 AM in Anchorage (AKST), it's 10:00 AM on the Pacific Coast (PST).
Does this difference change throughout the year?
Yes, it does change depending on daylight saving time transitions. During winter months (November-March), both AKST and PST are standard time, maintaining a 1-hour difference. However, when both regions transition to daylight time (AKDT and PDT in spring), the difference becomes 2 hours, which lasts from mid-March to early November.
When do daylight saving time transitions occur?
Both Alaska and the Pacific Coast 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 means you'll need to adjust your calculations on these dates each year.
What are the best times to schedule meetings between Alaska and the Pacific Coast?
With only a 1-hour difference during standard time, coordination is quite straightforward. Business hours overlap significantly: 8 AM AKST aligns with 9 AM PST, and 5 PM AKST aligns with 6 PM PST. This makes scheduling meetings much easier compared to other Alaska-US region pairs.
Which major cities are affected by these timezones?
AKST covers Alaska's major cities including Anchorage (largest city), Fairbanks, Juneau (capital), Ketchikan, and Sitka. PST covers US Pacific Coast cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, and San Diego, as well as parts of Canada like Vancouver and Victoria.
Why is Alaska different from the Pacific region during daylight saving?
Both regions do observe daylight saving time, but they transition on the same dates. During the DST period, the difference increases to 2 hours instead of 1 hour. This slight difference makes Alaska-Pacific Coast coordination convenient year-round, especially compared to Alaska-Eastern region coordination which has much larger differences.
Pro Tips
- • The 1-hour difference between AKST and PST makes this one of the easiest Alaska-US timezone pairs to manage. A simple mental math of adding 1 hour is much easier than other Alaska combinations.
- • Mark your calendar for DST transitions (second Sunday in March and first Sunday in November) to remember when the difference changes from 1 hour to 2 hours and back.
- • For business coordination, standard working hours (9 AM-5 PM) in both regions overlap perfectly: 9 AM AKST is 10 AM PST, and 5 PM AKST is 6 PM PST, allowing seamless communication.
- • Alaska tech companies often coordinate with Silicon Valley. The 1-hour difference (or 2 hours during PDT) is much better than other Alaskan-tech-hub combinations, making this pairing popular for startup partnerships.
- • During video calls, remember that early morning calls in Alaska (8-9 AM AKST) are still reasonable morning hours on the Pacific Coast (9-10 AM PST), maintaining alertness on both sides.
- • Use the quick reference conversions as a mental anchor: 12 PM AKST = 1 PM PST. This simple noon-to-1 PM reference can help you quickly estimate other times without a calculator.
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