MST to AKDT Converter
Convert time between Mountain Standard Time (MST) and Alaska Daylight Time (AKDT)
Mountain Standard Time (MST)
Alaska Daylight Time (AKDT)
Time Difference
Alaska Daylight Time (AKDT) is 0 hours ahead of Mountain Standard Time (MST)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| MST | AKDT |
|---|---|
| 20:00 | 18:00 |
| 22:00 | 20:00 |
| 00:00 | 22:00 |
| 02:00 | 00:00 |
| 04:00 | 02:00 |
| 06:00 | 04:00 |
| 08:00 | 06:00 |
| 10:00 | 08:00 |
| 12:00 | 10:00 |
| 14:00 | 12:00 |
| 16:00 | 14:00 |
| 18:00 | 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
About MST to AKDT Time Conversion
Converting time between Mountain Standard Time (MST) and Alaska Daylight Time (AKDT) bridges Phoenix and the Mountain US in winter standard time with Anchorage and Fairbanks. MST is UTC-7 while AKDT is UTC-8, placing AKDT 1 hour behind MST.
Most of the Mountain US follows the US daylight saving schedule and uses MDT in summer. MST-AKDT overlap is most relevant for Arizona — which stays on MST year-round (apart from the Navajo Nation) — and during the brief DST-transition windows for the rest of the region.
Common Use Cases for MST to AKDT Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling meetings between Arizona partners and Alaska-based teams year-round
- Coordinating with the Mountain US during DST-transition windows
- Planning conference calls between Phoenix and Anchorage
Personal & Travel
- Planning travel itineraries between Arizona and Alaska
- Coordinating with family and friends in Alaska from Phoenix, Tucson, or other Arizona cities
- Understanding Arizona's no-DST policy in cross-region scheduling
Time Zone Information
Mountain Standard Time (MST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-7 (UTC-6 during MDT)
- IANA Timezone: America/Denver
- Daylight Saving: Most of the Mountain US uses MDT in summer; Arizona stays on MST year-round
- Major Cities: Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale
- Coverage: Arizona year-round; Mountain US in winter standard time
Alaska Daylight Time (AKDT)
- UTC Offset: UTC-8
- IANA Timezone: America/Anchorage
- Daylight Saving: Second Sunday in March to First Sunday in November
- Major Cities: Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Sitka
- Coverage: Most of Alaska during daylight saving period
Quick Reference: MST to AKDT
Remember: AKDT is 1 hour behind MST. For Arizona this applies year-round; for the rest of the Mountain US, see the MDT-AKDT page during summer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between MST and AKDT?
Mountain Standard Time (MST) is UTC-7, while Alaska Daylight Time (AKDT) is UTC-8. AKDT is 1 hour behind MST. When it is 12:00 PM in Phoenix, it is 11:00 AM in Anchorage.
When does this MST to AKDT conversion apply?
AKDT runs from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. Most of the Mountain US uses MDT in summer, but Arizona stays on MST year-round. The MST-AKDT 1-hour offset is most relevant for Arizona during Alaska's DST window.
How does the time difference change throughout the year?
When Alaska reverts to AKST (UTC-9) in November, the offset to Arizona MST becomes 2 hours. For the rest of the Mountain US, the active timezone shifts between MDT and MST on US-wide DST dates.
What are the best times for MST-AKDT business calls?
The 1-hour gap is small, so most working hours overlap. 9:00 AM–5:00 PM MST corresponds to 8:00 AM–4:00 PM AKDT — both regions are awake and at work for most of that span.
Which countries/regions use AKDT timezone?
AKDT covers most of Alaska during daylight saving, including Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, and Sitka. The Aleutian Islands use Hawaii-Aleutian Time and follow a different rule set.
Which countries/regions use MST timezone?
MST is observed year-round in Arizona (apart from the Navajo Nation). Major MST cities in Arizona include Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, Chandler, and Scottsdale. The rest of the Mountain US uses MST only during winter.
Pro Tips
- • AKDT is 1 hour behind MST — subtract 1 hour from a Phoenix time to get the Anchorage time.
- • Arizona is the main MST region during AKDT — the rest of the Mountain US uses MDT in summer.
- • Best meeting window: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM MST overlaps with 8:00 AM–4:00 PM AKDT — most of the working day.
- • Arizona never observes DST. Only the AKDT side shifts; MST is constant year-round in Arizona.
- • Use IANA identifiers (America/Phoenix for Arizona, America/Denver for the rest, America/Anchorage for Alaska) in calendar tools.
- • When Alaska reverts to AKST in November, the offset to Arizona MST grows to 2 hours.