EDT to AKST Converter
Convert time between Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) and Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
Time Difference
Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is 0 hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
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Select Time
Quick Reference
| EDT | AKST |
|---|---|
| 21:00 | 17:00 |
| 23:00 | 19:00 |
| 01:00 | 21:00 |
| 03:00 | 23:00 |
| 05:00 | 01:00 |
| 07:00 | 03:00 |
| 09:00 | 05:00 |
| 11:00 | 07:00 |
| 13:00 | 09:00 |
| 15:00 | 11:00 |
| 17:00 | 13:00 |
| 19:00 | 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 EDT to AKST Time Conversion
Converting time between Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) and Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is essential for coordinating between the US East Coast and Alaska. EDT is UTC-4 (used March to November), while AKST is UTC-9 year-round (Alaska does not observe daylight saving time). This creates a consistent 5-hour difference between EDT and AKST during the entire daylight saving period.
This converter is valuable for business operations, travel planning, and personal coordination between Eastern US cities and Alaska. The 5-hour difference presents a significant scheduling challenge, requiring early morning calls on the East Coast or late evening calls in Alaska. Major industries coordinating across this timezone include oil/gas, fishing, tourism, federal government operations, and military coordination.
Common Use Cases for EDT to AKST Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling meetings between East Coast offices and Alaska operations
- Coordinating oil, gas, and mining operations between regions
- Planning conference calls for fishing and seafood industries
- Managing federal government and military operations coordination
- Coordinating tourism and hospitality operations across regions
Personal & Travel
- Planning travel to Alaska from the East Coast
- Coordinating with family and friends in Alaska
- Scheduling events with participants from both regions
- Understanding time differences for Alaskan communications
- Managing winter vacation and northern lights viewing planning
Time Zone Information
Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
- UTC Offset: UTC-4 (UTC-5 during EST)
- IANA Timezone: America/New_York
- Daylight Saving: Second Sunday in March to First Sunday in November
- Major Cities: New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Miami, Washington DC
- Coverage: Eastern United States and Eastern Canada
Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-9 (no daylight saving)
- IANA Timezone: America/Anchorage
- Daylight Saving: No daylight saving time
- Major Cities: Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Ketchikan, Palmer
- Coverage: Most of Alaska
Quick Reference: EDT to AKST
Remember: AKST is always 5 hours behind EDT. Alaska does not observe daylight saving time, maintaining consistent offset year-round.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between EDT and AKST?
Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) is UTC-4, while Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is UTC-9. This means AKST is 5 hours behind EDT. When it's 12:00 PM in New York (EDT), it's 7:00 AM in Anchorage (AKST). This is one of the largest timezone differences within the US.
Why does Alaska not observe daylight saving time?
Alaska uses year-round Alaska Standard Time (AKST, UTC-9) without daylight saving time changes. This is because Alaska experiences extreme daylight variations (midnight sun in summer, extended darkness in winter), making daylight saving time less practical. Alaska also briefly observed Alaska Daylight Time (AKDT, UTC-8) historically but discontinued it in 2015.
What are the best times to schedule calls between EDT and AKST zones?
Optimal meeting windows are extremely limited due to the 5-hour difference. 7-8 AM EDT (2-3 AM AKST) works for early East Coast risers, or 5-6 PM EDT (12-1 PM AKST) for mid-afternoon East Coast calls. The most practical window is 8-9 AM EDT (3-4 AM AKST) for East Coast early mornings or 12-1 PM EDT (7-8 AM AKST) for late morning calls that reach Alaska morning.
How does the 5-hour difference affect business operations?
The significant 5-hour difference makes real-time coordination challenging. Many organizations use asynchronous communication (email, recorded messages, project management tools) alongside scheduled calls during the brief overlap windows. Alaska operations often work independently with headquarters coordination happening during morning AKST/afternoon EDT overlap.
Why is EDT to AKST coordination important?
Major industries require this coordination: oil and gas operations, fishing and seafood processing, mining operations, federal government and military installations, National Park Services, Coast Guard operations, and tourism companies. Alaska's remote location and importance to US strategic interests make this timezone conversion critical.
Does Alaska's lack of daylight saving time create additional scheduling challenges?
Yes. While EST (winter) is also UTC-5, making the difference 4 hours, EDT (summer) is UTC-4, creating a 5-hour difference. The lack of daylight saving time in Alaska means the offset changes only once per year (November) instead of twice, but the summer 5-hour gap remains a significant scheduling barrier.
Pro Tips
- • Use "1 PM ET / 8 AM AKT" format when scheduling calls - this double notation is crucial for clarity given the large 5-hour difference and risk of scheduling errors.
- • The 5-hour difference is significant. A 9 AM EDT call is 4 AM AKST (too early for most). A 5 PM EDT call is noon AKST. Schedule during these windows: 12-1 PM EDT (7-8 AM AKST) is often the best compromise.
- • Alaska does not observe daylight saving time, so the 5-hour difference is consistent year-round (with EDT) from March-November, and 4 hours (with EST) November-March.
- • For oil/gas and fishing operations, many Alaska teams maintain independent work schedules with headquarters coordination during the brief 7-8 AM AKST / 12-1 PM EDT window.
- • Use calendar tools that auto-convert timezones. The large 5-hour difference increases error risk, so automated systems (Google Calendar, Outlook with timezone display) are essential.
- • Document all meeting times in both EDT and AKST on all communications and meeting invitations. For Alaska business: always specify both "12 PM EDT / 7 AM AKST" to prevent confusion.
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