MDT to PDT Converter
Convert time between Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) and Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)
Mountain Daylight Time (MDT)
Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)
Time Difference
Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) is 0 hours ahead of Mountain Daylight Time (MDT)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| MDT | PDT |
|---|---|
| 19:00 | 18:00 |
| 21:00 | 20:00 |
| 23:00 | 22:00 |
| 01:00 | 00:00 |
| 03:00 | 02:00 |
| 05:00 | 04:00 |
| 07:00 | 06:00 |
| 09:00 | 08:00 |
| 11:00 | 10:00 |
| 13:00 | 12:00 |
| 15:00 | 14:00 |
| 17:00 | 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 MDT to PDT Time Conversion
Converting time between Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) and Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) is essential for coordinating between the Mountain and Pacific regions during daylight saving time. MDT is UTC-6 (March to November), while PDT is UTC-7 (March to November). PDT is exactly 1 hour behind MDT.
This converter is valuable for business operations, travel planning, and communications between Mountain region organizations and West Coast teams during the daylight saving months. Understanding this relationship is crucial for companies spanning Denver, Salt Lake City, and Pacific Coast cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco during summer operations.
Common Use Cases for MDT to PDT Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling meetings between Mountain and Pacific region offices during daylight saving time
- Coordinating project deadlines across time zones
- Planning conference calls and webinars between regions
- Managing distributed teams during summer months
Personal & Travel
- Planning travel between Mountain and Pacific time zones
- Coordinating with family and friends across regions
- Scheduling virtual events and online meetings
- Understanding time differences during summer daylight saving period
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
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
Quick Reference: MDT to PDT
Remember: PDT is always 1 hour behind MDT. Both regions observe daylight saving time during the same period (March to November), so this 1-hour difference remains consistent throughout the daylight saving season.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between MDT and PDT?
Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) is UTC-6, while Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) is UTC-7. This means MDT is 1 hour ahead of PDT. When it's 2:00 PM in Denver (MDT), it's 1:00 PM in Los Angeles (PDT).
When are MDT and PDT both active?
Both Mountain Daylight Time and Pacific Daylight Time are active during the same period: from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. This means the 1-hour time difference remains consistent throughout the entire daylight saving season.
What happens during daylight saving transitions?
Both Mountain and Pacific regions transition to/from daylight saving time on the same dates. They both spring forward on the second Sunday in March and fall back on the first Sunday in November. Since they transition together, the 1-hour difference between MDT and PDT is maintained year-round (except during the brief periods when one region is transitioning).
What is the time difference when both are in standard time?
When both regions are in standard time (November to March), Mountain Standard Time (MST) is UTC-7 and Pacific Standard Time (PST) is UTC-8, maintaining the same 1-hour difference. This consistency makes scheduling simpler - the 1-hour offset remains stable throughout the year.
What are the best times to schedule calls between Mountain and Pacific regions?
With only a 1-hour difference, there is excellent overlap in business hours. Morning meetings in the Mountain region (8-10 AM MDT) align perfectly with early morning in the Pacific region (7-9 AM PDT). Afternoon meetings in the Mountain region (2-4 PM MDT) work well for late morning in the Pacific region (1-3 PM PDT).
Why is the MDT-PDT conversion ideal for business coordination?
The 1-hour difference is the smallest among North American timezone pairs, making it ideal for real-time collaboration. Companies with offices in Denver and Los Angeles can easily schedule meetings during overlapping business hours. This makes the Mountain-Pacific pair perfect for distributed teams needing synchronous communication.
Pro Tips
- • The 1-hour offset is the smallest in North America - virtually no adjustment needed for real-time collaboration between Mountain and Pacific offices.
- • Morning Mountain meetings (8-10 AM MDT) correspond to 7-9 AM PDT - perfect for West Coast early bird teams to join before their full business day.
- • Midday Mountain meetings (12-1 PM MDT) are ideal for both regions - 11 AM-12 PM PDT for Pacific teams, noon for Mountain teams.
- • Afternoon Mountain meetings (3-5 PM MDT) align with 2-4 PM PDT - great for wrapping up the day with collaborative sessions.
- • Both regions transition on the same dates, so the 1-hour difference is consistently reliable throughout the year.
- • The 1-hour convenience means Denver and Los Angeles teams can have overlapping business hours from 8 AM MDT (7 AM PDT) through 5 PM PDT (6 PM MDT).
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