CEST to AKST Converter
Convert time between Central European Summer Time (CEST) and Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
Central European Summer Time (CEST)
Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
Time Difference
Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is 0 hours ahead of Central European Summer Time (CEST)
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Select Time
Quick Reference
| CEST | AKST |
|---|---|
| 03:00 | 17:00 |
| 05:00 | 19:00 |
| 07:00 | 21:00 |
| 09:00 | 23:00 |
| 11:00 | 01:00 |
| 13:00 | 03:00 |
| 15:00 | 05:00 |
| 17:00 | 07:00 |
| 19:00 | 09:00 |
| 21:00 | 11:00 |
| 23:00 | 13:00 |
| 01:00 | 15:00 |
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 CEST to AKST Time Conversion
Converting time between Central European Summer Time (CEST) and Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is one of the most niche timezone conversions, relevant only during winter months when both are active. CEST is UTC+2 (observed late March to late October during European summer), while AKST is UTC-9 (observed November to March in Alaska), making AKST 11 hours behind CEST.
This conversion is extremely rare due to minimal business coordination between Europe and Alaska, and the limited 4-month overlap period. When CEST is active (most of the year for European businesses), Alaska uses AKDT (Alaska Daylight Time, UTC-8) instead, making the difference 10 hours. CEST and AKST are simultaneously active only from early November to mid-March. There is virtually no overlapping business hours between the two zones, making asynchronous communication essential.
Common Use Cases for CEST to AKST Conversion
Business & Work
- Rare coordination with Alaska-based businesses during winter months (November-March)
- Adventure tourism companies planning operations in Alaska from European headquarters
- Research teams in Europe coordinating with Alaska scientific stations
- Minimal professional coordination - this conversion is largely theoretical
Personal & Travel
- Coordinating with family and friends in Alaska during winter months
- Planning winter travel to Alaska from Europe
- Scheduling virtual events for international audiences in winter
- Arranging online collaboration during winter months with Alaska colleagues
Time Zone Information
Central European Summer Time (CEST)
- UTC Offset: UTC+2
- IANA Timezone: Europe/Paris
- Daylight Saving: Last Sunday in March to Last Sunday in October
- Major Cities: Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, Brussels, Vienna, Prague, Milan, Madrid, Rome
- Coverage: Central and Western Europe during daylight saving time period
Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-9
- IANA Timezone: America/Anchorage
- Daylight Saving: First Sunday in November to Second Sunday in March (winter only)
- Major Cities: Anchorage, Juneau, Fairbanks, Ketchikan, Palmer
- Coverage: Alaska during standard time (winter months)
Quick Reference: CEST to AKST
Note: CEST and AKST are only active simultaneously from early November to mid-March (4 months). For most of the year, use CEST-to-AKDT converter (10-hour difference) instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between CEST and AKST?
Central European Summer Time (CEST) is UTC+2, while Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is UTC-9, making AKST 11 hours behind CEST. When it is 12:00 PM (noon) CEST in Paris, it is 1:00 AM AKST in Anchorage. CEST is daylight saving time (late March to late October), while AKST is standard time (November to March). During other periods, the difference changes when daylight saving transitions occur.
When are CEST and AKST active?
CEST (Central European Summer Time) is active from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October. AKST (Alaska Standard Time) is active from the first Sunday in November to the second Sunday in March. These periods overlap only briefly in early November and mid-March. For most of the year, you will be converting between CEST and AKDT (Alaska Daylight Time, UTC-8) or CET and AKST, with different time differences.
What is the difference between AKST and AKDT?
AKST (Alaska Standard Time, UTC-9) is used during winter months, while AKDT (Alaska Daylight Time, UTC-8) is used during summer months. The Alaska region switches between them on the same dates as the US: second Sunday in March (to AKDT) and first Sunday in November (to AKST). This is why CEST to AKST conversion is most relevant only during winter months when daylight saving is not in effect in Alaska.
Why is the CEST to AKST conversion rarely used?
CEST (summer time) and AKST (winter time) have extremely limited overlap, making this one of the least common timezone conversions. When CEST is active (March-October), Alaska uses AKDT (UTC-8), not AKST, creating a 10-hour difference instead of 11. CEST and AKST are only both active simultaneously during early November to mid-March. For most business coordination, you would be converting between CEST and AKDT (10 hours difference) instead.
How do I calculate CEST to AKST time differences manually?
To convert from CEST to AKST, subtract 11 hours from the CEST time. For example: 1:00 PM CEST - 11 hours = 2:00 AM AKST. If the result is negative, add 24 hours and subtract 1 from the date. For instance, 8:00 AM CEST - 11 hours = -3 hours, which equals 9:00 PM AKST the previous day.
What are the major cities in CEST and AKST timezones?
CEST covers major European cities including Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, Brussels, Vienna, Prague, Milan, and Madrid. AKST covers Alaska cities including Anchorage, Juneau, Fairbanks, and Ketchikan. These conversions are rarely needed for business purposes due to minimal economic and social ties, and the limited overlap period makes it more of a niche use case.
Pro Tips
- • CEST and AKST have the most limited overlap of major transatlantic timezone pairs. This conversion is rarely needed for actual business coordination.
- • The 11-hour difference between CEST and AKST applies only during winter months. For most of the year, you'll be working with CEST and AKDT (10-hour difference) instead.
- • If you're scheduling with Alaska, consider that during European summer months, Alaska will have switched to AKDT. Always verify the current daylight saving status.
- • There is virtually no overlapping business hours between CEST and AKST. When Europeans are working (9 AM - 6 PM CEST), Alaskans would be sleeping (2 AM - 11 PM AKST previous day).
- • Use CEST-to-AKDT converter (10-hour difference) for most of the year when coordinating with Alaska. CEST-to-AKST is a niche converter for winter months only.
- • Consider asynchronous communication for Europe-Alaska coordination. The 11-hour offset with minimal overlap makes real-time meetings extremely challenging.
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