AKST to UTC Converter
Convert time between Alaska Standard Time (AKST) and Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)
Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)
Time Difference
Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is 0 hours ahead of Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
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Quick Reference
| AKST | UTC |
|---|---|
| 17:00 | 02:00 |
| 19:00 | 04:00 |
| 21:00 | 06:00 |
| 23:00 | 08:00 |
| 01:00 | 10:00 |
| 03:00 | 12:00 |
| 05:00 | 14:00 |
| 07:00 | 16:00 |
| 09:00 | 18:00 |
| 11:00 | 20:00 |
| 13:00 | 22:00 |
| 15:00 | 00:00 |
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 UTC Time Conversion
Converting time between Alaska Standard Time (AKST) and Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is essential for international scheduling and coordination during standard time (November to March). AKST is UTC-9 (standard time), while UTC is the universal reference standard with UTC+0. AKST is 9 hours behind UTC, making this conversion crucial for global business operations, aviation, maritime operations in polar regions, and international communications during winter months.
This time zone converter uses the IANA timezone database to ensure accurate calculations for the AKST period. Whether you're scheduling meetings with international partners, managing aviation operations, coordinating Arctic maritime activities, or coordinating scientific research during standard time season, our converter provides reliable results for global coordination. Remember that AKST is only in effect from the first Sunday in November through the second Sunday in March; outside these dates, use AKDT to UTC conversion (8 hours difference instead of 9).
Common Use Cases for AKST to UTC Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling international calls between Alaska and global partners during winter months
- Coordinating with teams in Europe, Asia, and Africa from Alaska (standard time period)
- Managing aviation operations and flight coordination using UTC timestamps
- Synchronizing business processes across multiple international locations during standard time
Personal & Travel
- Coordinating with family and friends across different continents during winter months
- Planning international travel and connecting flights during winter season
- Scheduling online events with global participants during standard time period
- Understanding UTC times for international sports events and broadcasts during winter
Time Zone Information
Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-9 (observed November to March)
- IANA Timezone: America/Anchorage
- Daylight Saving: First Sunday in November to Second Sunday in March
- Major Cities: Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka
- Coverage: Alaska including the mainland and islands (winter months)
Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)
- UTC Offset: UTC+0 (year-round, no daylight saving)
- IANA Timezone: UTC
- Daylight Saving: No daylight saving time (universal reference)
- Major Cities: Used globally for aviation, military, maritime, science, and international business
- Coverage: Universal reference timezone for global coordination
Quick Reference: AKST to UTC
Remember: AKST is always 9 hours behind UTC. AKST is only in effect from the first Sunday in November through the second Sunday in March. During the rest of the year, Alaska observes Alaska Daylight Time (AKDT), which is UTC-8 (8 hours behind UTC). Always verify the current timezone before converting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between AKST and UTC?
Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is UTC-9, while UTC is the reference standard (UTC+0). This means AKST is 9 hours behind UTC. When it's 1:00 PM in Anchorage (AKST), it's 10:00 PM UTC (same day). AKST is observed from the first Sunday in November through the second Sunday in March.
When is AKST in effect?
Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is in effect from the first Sunday in November at 2:00 AM local time until the second Sunday in March at 2:00 AM local time. During this period, Alaska observes standard time. The rest of the year, it observes Alaska Daylight Time (AKDT), which is UTC-8.
How is AKST to UTC different from AKDT to UTC?
AKST is UTC-9, while AKDT is UTC-8, so there's a 1-hour difference between them. When converting to UTC, AKST requires subtracting 9 hours, while AKDT requires subtracting 8 hours. The choice between AKST and AKDT depends on the time of year: AKDT from March-November, and AKST from November-March.
What are the major cities in the AKST timezone?
The Alaska Standard Time zone covers major cities including Anchorage, Juneau, Fairbanks, Ketchikan, and Sitka. AKST is used throughout Alaska during winter months. Alaska is one of the northernmost US states and has unique daylight patterns that make timezone coordination especially important for business and coordination.
Why would I need to convert AKST to UTC?
UTC conversion is essential for international scheduling, aviation, maritime operations in polar regions, scientific research, and global business coordination. UTC is the worldwide standard for synchronizing activities across time zones. If you're scheduling meetings with Europe, Asia, or other international regions from Alaska, using UTC eliminates confusion with daylight saving time variations.
How do I convert AKST to UTC accurately?
To convert AKST to UTC, subtract 9 hours from the AKST time. For example: 3:00 PM AKST equals 12:00 AM UTC (midnight, next day), and 8:00 AM AKST equals 5:00 PM UTC (same day). Remember that AKST is only in effect from the first Sunday in November through the second Sunday in March. Outside these dates, use AKDT (subtract 8 hours instead).
Pro Tips
- • UTC is always the global reference - use UTC for scheduling international calls, especially with Europe, Asia, and other continents to avoid confusion with daylight saving time variations.
- • AKST transitions occur at 2:00 AM local time on specific dates. On the first Sunday in November, clocks fall back to AKST. On the second Sunday in March, clocks spring forward to AKDT. Set reminders to adjust schedules.
- • When coordinating with UTC-based teams, always specify both the local time (AKST) and UTC time to prevent scheduling errors and confusion across regions with extreme time differences.
- • AKST is active during winter months when Alaska has minimal daylight. If you need to convert Alaska timezone times to UTC during summer, use AKDT to UTC instead (8-hour difference instead of 9).
- • For aviation, maritime, and polar research operations, use UTC as the standard timezone for all international correspondence, flight logs, navigation records, and scheduled activities.
- • Quick mental math: AKST midnight (00:00) is 9:00 AM UTC the same day. Noon AKST (12:00) is 9:00 PM UTC. This helps quickly estimate UTC times during the winter season.
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