EST to PDT Converter
Convert time between Eastern Standard Time (EST) and Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)
Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)
Time Difference
Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) is 0 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| EST | PDT |
|---|---|
| 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 EST to PDT Time Conversion
Converting time between Eastern Time (EST/EDT) and Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) spans the entire continental United States. Eastern Time is UTC-5 (EST) or UTC-4 (EDT), while PDT is UTC-7, making PDT 3 hours behind Eastern Time.
This conversion is essential for cross-country business operations, entertainment industry coordination, and personal communications spanning the East and West coasts during daylight saving time periods.
Common Use Cases for EST to PDT Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling coast-to-coast business meetings and conference calls
- Coordinating tech companies with offices in New York and California
- Planning nationwide product launches and announcements
Personal & Travel
- Planning cross-country travel and flight schedules
- Watching live events and sports broadcasts on the West Coast
- Coordinating with West Coast family and friends
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
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, San Diego, Portland
- Coverage: Pacific United States and Canada (during daylight saving time)
Quick Reference: EST to PDT
Remember: PDT is always 3 hours behind EST. During winter, PST (UTC-8) is used instead of PDT.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between EST and PDT?
The time difference between Eastern Time (EST/EDT) and Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) is 3 hours. PDT is 3 hours behind Eastern Time. For example, when it is 12:00 PM EST, it is 9:00 AM PDT.
When is PDT used instead of PST?
PDT (Pacific Daylight Time) is used during daylight saving time in the United States, which typically runs from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. During winter months, PST (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-8) is used instead, making the time difference 4 hours.
How do I convert EST time to PDT?
To convert EST time to PDT, simply subtract 3 hours from the EST time. For example: 3:00 PM EST minus 3 hours equals 12:00 PM PDT. Our converter handles this calculation automatically for any time and date.
What major cities use Pacific Daylight Time?
Major cities in the PDT timezone include Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego, Las Vegas, Portland, and Vancouver. These cities are located on the US West Coast and parts of British Columbia, Canada.
How do I schedule meetings between EST and PDT?
When scheduling meetings between EST and PDT zones, remember the 3-hour difference. If you want a meeting at 10:00 AM PDT, that would be 1:00 PM EST the same day. Our converter helps you find suitable meeting times across both timezones quickly.
Why do the time differences sometimes seem different?
The time difference can appear different depending on daylight saving time transitions. When EDT (UTC-4) is in effect on the East Coast and PDT (UTC-7) on the West Coast, the difference is 3 hours. When EST (UTC-5) and PST (UTC-8) are in effect, the difference becomes 3 hours as well. However, during the brief transition periods, the differences can temporarily vary.
Pro Tips
- • Remember that PDT is 3 hours behind EST - when you add 3 hours to PDT, you get EST time.
- • PDT is only used from March to November. During winter (November-March), use PST (UTC-8) instead, making the difference 4 hours.
- • Many tech companies and entertainment studios are based in California (PDT) and New York (EST) - knowing this conversion is crucial for West Coast-East Coast coordination.
- • When scheduling international calls with both coasts, ask participants their local time to avoid confusion between daylight and standard time.
- • Stock markets on the East Coast open at 9:30 AM EST, which is 6:30 AM PDT - West Coast traders need to wake up early for market open!
- • Use 24-hour time format to avoid confusion between AM and PM when converting between EST and PDT.