BST to PDT Converter
Convert time between British Summer Time (BST) and Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)
British Summer Time (BST)
Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)
Time Difference
Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) is 0 hours ahead of British Summer Time (BST)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| BST | PDT |
|---|---|
| 02:00 | 18:00 |
| 04:00 | 20:00 |
| 06:00 | 22:00 |
| 08:00 | 00:00 |
| 10:00 | 02:00 |
| 12:00 | 04:00 |
| 14:00 | 06:00 |
| 16:00 | 08:00 |
| 18:00 | 10:00 |
| 20:00 | 12:00 |
| 22:00 | 14:00 |
| 00:00 | 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 BST to PDT Time Conversion
Converting time between British Summer Time (BST) and Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) is essential for coordinating activities between the UK and the US West Coast during summer. BST is UTC+1, while PDT is UTC-7, making PDT 8 hours behind BST.
This time zone converter uses the IANA timezone database to ensure accurate calculations, accounting for daylight saving time transitions and regional variations. Whether you're scheduling business meetings between London and Silicon Valley, planning travel, or coordinating with tech teams across time zones, our converter provides reliable results.
Common Use Cases for BST to PDT Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling meetings between UK and US West Coast tech offices
- Coordinating London and Silicon Valley startup operations
- Planning international tech conferences and webinars
Personal & Travel
- Planning travel itineraries from UK to US West Coast
- Coordinating with family and friends in California and Washington
- Scheduling virtual events with UK-US West Coast audiences
Time Zone Information
British Summer Time (BST)
- UTC Offset: UTC+1 (UTC+0 during GMT)
- IANA Timezone: Europe/London
- Daylight Saving: Last Sunday in March to Last Sunday in October
- Major Cities: London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast
- Coverage: United Kingdom and Ireland (during daylight saving time)
Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)
- UTC Offset: UTC-7 (UTC-8 during PST)
- IANA Timezone: America/Los_Angeles
- Daylight Saving: 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 (during daylight saving time)
Quick Reference: BST to PDT
Remember: PDT is always 8 hours behind BST
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between BST and PDT?
British Summer Time (BST) is UTC+1, while Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) is UTC-7. BST is 8 hours ahead of PDT. This means when it's 6:00 PM in BST, it's 10:00 AM in PDT. Both regions observe daylight saving time during overlapping periods (late March to early November).
When are BST and PDT both active?
Both BST and PDT are active during the same period: from late March (when the UK clocks go forward) to early November (when the US West Coast clocks go back). The UK observes BST from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October. The US West Coast observes PDT from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. There's about a 2-week overlap on each end of the year.
What happens when only one region observes daylight saving time?
Before late March and between late October and early November, the timing differs. When UK is in GMT (UTC+0) and US West Coast is in PDT (UTC-7), the difference is 7 hours. When UK is in BST (UTC+1) and US West Coast is in PST (UTC-8), the difference is 9 hours. Always check the current season to determine the exact time difference for scheduling.
What are the major cities in BST and PDT timezones?
BST covers major UK cities including London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Cardiff, and Belfast. PDT covers major West Coast US cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, and San Diego. These are important tech and business hubs where understanding the time difference is crucial for coordination.
How do I convert BST to PDT manually?
To convert from BST to PDT, subtract 8 hours from the BST time. For example, if it's 6:00 PM BST, it would be 10:00 AM PDT. This conversion applies when both regions are observing daylight saving time (late March to early November). Outside this period, adjust the calculation based on whether each region is in standard or daylight saving time.
What should I know about scheduling across BST and PDT?
The UK and US West Coast have limited working hour overlap during the summer months. Early morning BST (8-10 AM) corresponds to midnight to 2 AM PDT, while afternoon BST (2-4 PM) corresponds to early morning PDT (6-8 AM). Late afternoon UK times (5-6 PM) work best for morning meetings on the West Coast (9-10 AM PDT). Successful transatlantic scheduling requires flexibility from both parties.
Pro Tips
- • BST is always 8 hours ahead of PDT - but only during late March to early November when both observe daylight saving time. Outside this period, recalculate based on GMT or PST.
- • Both UK and US West Coast observe daylight saving but on different dates. UK changes occur on the last Sunday of March and October, while US West Coast changes happen on the second Sunday of March and first Sunday of November.
- • Early morning BST (8-10 AM) equals midnight to 2 AM PDT, making synchronous morning meetings impractical without one party working overnight.
- • Afternoon BST (2-4 PM) roughly aligns with early morning PDT (6-8 AM), which is the most practical window for transatlantic scheduling to avoid extreme hours.
- • Late afternoon UK times (5-6 PM BST) correspond to morning West Coast times (9-10 AM PDT), making this ideal for scheduling important meetings involving both regions.
- • Always check daylight saving transition dates when scheduling events months in advance, as UK (late March/October) and US West Coast (mid-March/early November) change on different dates.