MDT to AKST Converter
Convert time between Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) and Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
Mountain Daylight Time (MDT)
Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
Time Difference
Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is 0 hours ahead of Mountain Daylight Time (MDT)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| MDT | AKST |
|---|---|
| 19:00 | 17:00 |
| 21:00 | 19:00 |
| 23:00 | 21:00 |
| 01:00 | 23:00 |
| 03:00 | 01:00 |
| 05:00 | 03:00 |
| 07:00 | 05:00 |
| 09:00 | 07:00 |
| 11:00 | 09:00 |
| 13:00 | 11:00 |
| 15:00 | 13:00 |
| 17:00 | 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 MDT to AKST Time Conversion
Converting time between Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) and Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is essential for coordinating between the US Mountain region and Alaska. MDT is UTC-6 (March to November during daylight saving time), while AKST is UTC-9 (October to March). AKST is exactly 3 hours behind MDT.
This conversion is crucial for businesses with operations spanning the Mountain region (Denver, Salt Lake City) and Alaska (Anchorage, Juneau, Fairbanks). The oil and gas industry, mining, fishing, and tourism sectors heavily utilize this coordination. Alaska does not observe daylight saving time during summer, maintaining a consistent timezone offset year-round, though the difference changes seasonally as the Mountain region transitions between MDT and MST.
Common Use Cases for MDT to AKST Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling business calls between Mountain US offices and Alaska offices
- Coordinating oil and gas operations across Mountain-Alaska regions
- Managing mining and resource extraction projects
- Coordinating logistics and supply chain operations with Alaska
Personal & Travel
- Planning travel between Mountain region and Alaska
- Coordinating with Alaska family and friends
- Scheduling virtual meetings with Alaskan business partners
- Understanding time differences for Alaska remote work
Time Zone Information
Mountain Daylight Time (MDT)
- UTC Offset: UTC-6 (UTC-7 during MST)
- IANA Timezone: America/Denver
- Daylight Saving: Second Sunday in March to First Sunday in November
- Major Cities: Denver, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, Boise, Fort Collins
- Coverage: Mountain United States and parts of Canada
Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-9 (UTC-8 during AKDT)
- IANA Timezone: America/Anchorage
- Daylight Saving: Second Sunday in March to First Sunday in November (observes AKDT)
- Major Cities: Anchorage, Juneau, Fairbanks, Sitka, Ketchikan
- Coverage: Alaska (most of the state)
Quick Reference: MDT to AKST
Remember: AKST is always 3 hours behind MDT. Alaska observes daylight saving time (AKDT), so when Alaska is in daylight time, the difference is 2 hours. Check current time status for precise coordination.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between MDT and AKST?
Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) is UTC-6, while Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is UTC-9. This means AKST is 3 hours behind MDT. When it's 12:00 PM noon in Denver (MDT), it's 9:00 AM in Anchorage (AKST).
Does Alaska observe daylight saving time?
Yes, Alaska observes daylight saving time, but on the same schedule as the Mountain region. During summer (March-November), Alaska is in Alaska Daylight Time (AKDT) at UTC-8. This means during summer, the time difference between Mountain and Alaska regions is 2 hours instead of 3 hours.
When is the time difference 2 hours vs 3 hours?
From March to November, both regions observe daylight saving time (MDT and AKDT), making the difference 2 hours. From November to March, both are in standard time (MST and AKST), making the difference 3 hours. The transitions happen on the same dates, but the time difference changes accordingly.
What major cities are in Alaska?
Major Alaska cities include Anchorage (the largest), Juneau (the capital), Fairbanks (Interior Alaska), Sitka (Southeast Alaska), and Ketchikan (Southeast Alaska). Anchorage is the primary business hub and where most time coordination occurs, being home to most of Alaska's population.
What are the best times to schedule calls between Mountain and Alaska?
With a 3-hour difference during winter (AKST), morning Mountain meetings (9-10 AM MDT) align with early morning Alaska (6-7 AM AKST). Afternoon Mountain meetings (2-3 PM MDT) work for late morning Alaska (11 AM-12 PM AKST). During summer (AKDT), the difference is 2 hours, allowing better overlap and later Alaska meetings.
Why is this conversion important for Alaska business?
Alaska has a major oil and gas industry, mining operations, and fishing businesses that often coordinate with Mountain region operations. The 3-hour time difference (2 hours in summer) requires careful scheduling. Companies spanning both regions must account for the significant time gap and plan meetings strategically to minimize disruption to either team's work schedule.
Pro Tips
- • Remember the 3-hour difference during winter (AKST) and 2-hour difference during summer (AKDT) - the difference changes based on daylight saving time.
- • Morning Mountain meetings (9-10 AM MDT winter) are very early for Alaska (6-7 AM AKST) - consider scheduling important calls for 10-11 AM MDT (7-8 AM AKST) when both teams can focus.
- • Afternoon Mountain time (2-3 PM MDT) aligns well with Alaska morning (11 AM-12 PM AKST) - great for collaborative work sessions.
- • During summer months with AKDT, the better overlap window is 9 AM-12 PM MDT (8-11 AM AKDT) for optimal business coordination.
- • Oil and gas operations often work 24/7 - document all meeting times in both timezones to avoid confusion across operations.
- • Alaska's remote locations may have limited connectivity windows - verify meeting times work with location-specific business hours.
Update Logs
View the latest updates and features