EDT to PST Converter
Convert time between Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) and Pacific Standard Time (PST)
Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
Pacific Standard Time (PST)
Time Difference
Pacific Standard Time (PST) is 0 hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| EDT | PST |
|---|---|
| 21:00 | 18:00 |
| 23:00 | 20:00 |
| 01:00 | 22:00 |
| 03:00 | 00:00 |
| 05:00 | 02:00 |
| 07:00 | 04:00 |
| 09:00 | 06:00 |
| 11:00 | 08:00 |
| 13:00 | 10:00 |
| 15:00 | 12:00 |
| 17:00 | 14:00 |
| 19:00 | 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 EDT to PST Time Conversion
Converting time between Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) and Pacific Standard Time (PST) is essential for coordinating activities between US East Coast and West Coast. EDT is UTC-4 (during daylight saving), while PST is UTC-8, making PST 4 hours behind EDT during their respective seasons.
This conversion is particularly important for coast-to-coast business coordination and media production. Note that EDT and PST are only in use simultaneously during spring and fall transitions. Our converter automatically handles these seasonal complexities, calculating the time difference accurately based on current daylight saving status.
Common Use Cases for EDT to PST Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling conference calls between East Coast and West Coast offices
- Coordinating media and entertainment production schedules
- Managing tech company operations across continental time zones
Personal & Travel
- Coordinating with friends and family on opposite coasts
- Planning travel between East and West Coast destinations
- Scheduling virtual events across the entire continental US
Time Zone Information
Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
- UTC Offset: UTC-4 (EST is UTC-5)
- 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
Pacific Standard Time (PST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-8 (PDT is UTC-7)
- IANA Timezone: America/Los_Angeles
- Daylight Saving: Second Sunday in March to First Sunday in November
- Major Cities: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego, Portland
- Coverage: Pacific United States and Canada
Quick Reference: EDT to PST
Remember: PST is always 3 hours behind EDT
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between EDT and PST?
EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) is UTC-4, while PST (Pacific Standard Time) is UTC-8, making PST 4 hours behind EDT. However, these time zones are only in use simultaneously during spring and fall transitions. Most of the year, EDT is compared with PDT (Pacific Daylight Time, UTC-7), which is 3 hours behind EDT.
When do EDT and PST overlap, and when do they not?
EDT and PST are only simultaneous during brief periods during daylight saving transitions: typically mid-March to early May and early November to mid-November. During these windows, the Eastern zone has switched to daylight time but the Pacific zone has not yet. For the rest of the year, you'd typically be converting between EDT and PDT.
What is the difference between PST and PDT?
PST (Pacific Standard Time) is UTC-8 and used during winter (November to March). PDT (Pacific Daylight Time) is UTC-7 and used during daylight saving time (March to November). When comparing EDT to PST, you're looking at a 4-hour difference, but when comparing EDT to PDT, the difference is only 3 hours.
Which US cities are in the Pacific time zone?
Major cities in the Pacific time zone include Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego, Portland, Las Vegas, Phoenix (part-time), and Vancouver in Canada. The Pacific time zone covers the western portion of the United States and extends into parts of Canada and Mexico.
How do I convert EDT to PST manually?
To convert EDT to PST, subtract 4 hours from the EDT time. For example, if it is 3:00 PM EDT, the corresponding PST time would be 11:00 AM (15:00 - 4 hours = 11:00). If the result is negative, add 24 hours and subtract 1 day.
Why is understanding EDT to PST conversion important?
Understanding EDT to PST conversion is crucial for coast-to-coast business coordination, media production scheduling, travel planning, and any communication between East and West Coast teams. While the conversion may be temporary during seasonal transitions, accurate timezone awareness ensures reliable scheduling and communication across the continental US.
Pro Tips
- • Remember that EDT and PST only overlap during brief spring and fall periods. Most of the year, you'll be converting between EDT and PDT, which have a 3-hour difference instead of 4 hours.
- • When scheduling business meetings during March and early November (and early May), verify which time zone each party is observing to avoid confusion during the transition period.
- • Los Angeles observes Pacific time, which means it's always 3-4 hours behind New York depending on whether daylight saving is active or not.
- • Our converter automatically handles the complexities of daylight saving transitions, so you don't need to worry about manual calculation errors during these periods.
- • For coast-to-coast business coordination, it's often easier to reference UTC times to avoid confusion with regional time zone transitions.
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