EST to AKST Converter
Convert time between Eastern Standard Time (EST) and Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
Time Difference
Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is 0 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| EST | 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 EST to AKST Time Conversion
Eastern Standard Time (EST) is UTC-5 and is used across the Eastern United States and Canada. Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is UTC-9 and is used in most of Alaska. AKST is 4 hours behind EST, making it one of the largest time differences within North America.
This conversion is essential for business coordination between Eastern North America and Alaska, as well as for travel planning and communication across these regions. Alaska does not observe daylight saving time, which is important to note when scheduling activities, as EST does observe daylight saving time (EDT, UTC-4) from March to November, making the difference 5 hours during that period.
Common Use Cases for EST to AKST Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling meetings between Eastern US offices and Alaskan operations
- Coordinating with Alaska business partners in oil and gas, fishing, or tourism industries
- Planning conference calls across the Eastern and Alaska time zones
- Managing cross-border business operations with Alaskan companies
Personal & Travel
- Coordinating with family and friends in Alaska
- Planning travel to Alaska and understanding local time differences
- Scheduling events that include participants from both regions
- Understanding time differences for remote communications with Alaska
Time Zone Information
Eastern Standard Time (EST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-5 (UTC-4 during EDT)
- IANA Timezone: America/New_York
- Daylight Saving: Second Sunday in March to First Sunday in November
- Major Cities: New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Miami, Boston
- Coverage: Eastern United States and Canada
Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-9 (Year-round, no daylight saving)
- IANA Timezone: America/Anchorage
- Daylight Saving: No daylight saving time observed
- Major Cities: Anchorage, Juneau, Fairbanks, Ketchikan
- Coverage: Most of Alaska (Hawaii does not observe AKST)
Quick Reference: EST to AKST
Remember: AKST is always 4 hours behind EST. AKST does not observe daylight saving time, so the difference increases to 5 hours when EST transitions to EDT (March-November)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between EST and AKST?
Eastern Standard Time (EST) is UTC-5, while Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is UTC-9. This means AKST is 4 hours behind EST. When it's 12:00 PM in New York (EST), it's 8:00 AM in Anchorage (AKST). AKST does not observe daylight saving time, so the difference increases to 5 hours when EST transitions to EDT (March-November).
Does Alaska observe daylight saving time?
No, Alaska does not observe daylight saving time. Most of Alaska remains on Alaska Standard Time (AKST, UTC-9) year-round. This is a key difference from the Eastern time zone, which observes Eastern Daylight Time (EDT, UTC-4) from March to November. This means the time difference between EST and AKST becomes 5 hours during daylight saving time in the Eastern zone.
What is the best time to schedule calls between Eastern US and Alaska?
Due to the 4-5 hour time difference, scheduling can be challenging. Good times for meetings are: Early morning EST (8-9 AM) corresponds to early morning AKST (4-5 AM), which is difficult. Mid-morning EST (10-11 AM) corresponds to mid-morning AKST (6-7 AM), which is early but feasible. Afternoon EST (3-4 PM) corresponds to afternoon AKST (11 AM-12 PM). Late afternoon EST (4-5 PM) corresponds to early afternoon AKST (12-1 PM), which works well for both regions.
Why is Alaska 4 hours behind EST?
The time difference is based on geographic location and time zone designations. Alaska spans a massive area and uses AKST (UTC-9) as its primary standard time for most of the state. The Eastern US uses EST (UTC-5). The 4-hour difference reflects Alaska's position further west and the historical establishment of time zones across North America. Hawaii is even further behind, observing Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time (HST, UTC-10).
Is it difficult to do business between EST and AKST regions?
The 4-5 hour time difference does present challenges for real-time business coordination. However, many Alaskan businesses operate across multiple time zones. Some solutions include: scheduling meetings early in the EST day or late in the AKST day, using asynchronous communication methods (email, project management tools), recording important meetings for those unable to attend live, and establishing core business hours that work for both regions.
When do I need to adjust for daylight saving time differences?
During daylight saving time (second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November), EST transitions to EDT (UTC-4), making the difference 5 hours instead of 4. Alaska does not change its clocks, so AKST remains UTC-9 year-round. This means the difference varies: 4 hours in winter (November-March) and 5 hours in summer (March-November). Always verify the current time difference when scheduling important events during transition periods.
Pro Tips
- • AKST is 4 hours behind EST during winter months and 5 hours behind during daylight saving time. Remember: Alaska does not observe daylight saving time.
- • For business calls, 4-5 PM EST is often the best window as it corresponds to 12-1 PM AKST, during normal Alaskan business hours.
- • Alaska's tourism industry is significant, so understanding the time difference is important for travel planning and making reservations.
- • Alaska has a large oil and gas industry; many Eastern US companies coordinate operations with Alaskan partners across this 4-5 hour difference.
- • Use the 10-11 AM EST window (6-7 AM AKST) for early morning Alaskan meetings, though participation may be limited due to the early hour.
- • Alaska's year-round AKST observation means the time difference is more predictable than with regions that observe daylight saving time.
Update Logs
View the latest updates and features