MST to AKST Converter
Convert time between Mountain Standard Time (MST) and Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
Mountain Standard Time (MST)
Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
Time Difference
Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is 0 hours ahead of Mountain Standard Time (MST)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| MST | 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 MST to AKST Time Conversion
Converting time between Mountain Standard Time (MST) and Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is essential for coordinating activities between the continental United States and Alaska. MST is UTC-7 during winter and UTC-6 during summer (MDT), while AKST is UTC-9 during winter and UTC-8 during summer (AKDT). The time difference remains constant at 2 hours throughout the year because both regions transition to daylight saving time on the same dates.
This conversion is particularly useful for businesses operating across the continental US and Alaska, as well as for travelers and individuals coordinating with family and friends in Alaska. Our converter uses the IANA timezone database to ensure accurate calculations while handling the complexities of seasonal timezone changes in these distinct geographic regions.
Common Use Cases for MST to AKST Conversion
Business & Work
- Coordinating business operations between continental US offices and Alaskan facilities
- Scheduling meetings and conference calls across the continental US and Alaska
- Managing projects and timelines that span Mountain and Alaska regions
Personal & Travel
- Planning travel between the continental US and Alaska
- Coordinating with family and friends in Alaska during different seasons
- Managing events and communications across regional time boundaries
Time Zone Information
Mountain Standard Time (MST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-7 (UTC-6 during MDT)
- IANA Timezone: America/Denver
- Daylight Saving: MST: November to March, MDT: March to November
- Major Cities: Denver, Colorado Springs, Salt Lake City, Phoenix
- Coverage: Mountain region of western North America including Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Arizona, parts of Idaho and New Mexico
Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-9 (UTC-8 during AKDT)
- IANA Timezone: America/Anchorage
- Daylight Saving: AKST: November to March, AKDT: March to November
- Major Cities: Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka
- Coverage: Alaska, the largest and northernmost US state by geography
Quick Reference: MST to AKST
Remember: AKST is always 2 hours behind MST. The time difference remains consistent year-round because both regions transition to daylight saving time on the same dates (second Sunday in March and first Sunday in November).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between MST and AKST?
Mountain Standard Time (MST) is UTC-7, while Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is UTC-9. This means AKST is 2 hours behind MST. When it's 12:00 PM in Denver during winter (MST), it would be 10:00 AM in Anchorage during winter (AKST). The 2-hour difference remains constant year-round because both regions transition to daylight saving time on the same dates.
When are MST and AKST active?
Mountain Standard Time (MST) is active from the first Sunday in November to the second Sunday in March, while Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is active during the same period. Both regions observe daylight saving time from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November, transitioning to MDT (UTC-6) and AKDT (UTC-8) respectively. Because they transition on the same dates, the 2-hour difference is maintained year-round.
What regions use MST and AKST?
MST covers the Mountain region including Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, New Mexico, and parts of Arizona and Idaho. Major cities include Denver, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, and Boulder. AKST covers Alaska, the largest and northernmost US state. Major cities include Anchorage (the largest city in Alaska), Fairbanks, Juneau (the capital), Ketchikan, and Sitka. Alaska spans across multiple time zones, but Anchorage-based AKST/AKDT is used for most population centers.
Why is MST to AKST conversion useful?
This conversion is essential for coordinating business operations between the continental United States and Alaska, as well as for travel coordination and personal communications. Alaska's oil industry, fishing operations, tourism, and government facilities often need to coordinate with the lower 48 states. The 2-hour time difference can be challenging to manage, making this converter invaluable for scheduling meetings, planning travel, and coordinating across these geographically distant regions.
How do daylight saving transitions affect MST to AKST scheduling?
One advantage of MST to AKST conversion is that both regions transition to daylight saving time on the same dates: the second Sunday in March (to MDT and AKDT respectively) and the first Sunday in November (back to MST and AKST). This means the 2-hour time difference remains constant throughout the year, making scheduling more predictable. However, you should still specify the IANA timezone (America/Denver and America/Anchorage) in calendar applications to ensure accuracy.
Is AKST the same across all of Alaska?
Alaska actually spans three major time zones: Alaska Time (AKST/AKDT, UTC-9/-8) used in most of Alaska including Anchorage, Juneau, and Fairbanks; Hawaii-Aleutian Time (HST/HDT, UTC-10/-9) used in the Aleutian Islands west of 172 degrees west longitude; and occasionally simplified as one zone for practical purposes. Most Alaskan population centers use Alaska Time (America/Anchorage), which is what this converter uses. For the westernmost Aleutian Islands, there's a one-hour additional difference.
Pro Tips
- • AKST is always 2 hours behind MST - a simple rule: subtract 2 hours from MST to get AKST time.
- • The time difference between MST and AKST remains constant at 2 hours year-round, unlike some other timezone pairs, because both regions observe daylight saving time on the same schedule.
- • Both MST and AKST regions observe daylight saving time from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. During these periods, they transition to MDT (UTC-6) and AKDT (UTC-8) respectively, maintaining the 2-hour difference.
- • When scheduling recurring meetings between Mountain and Alaska regions, use your calendar application's IANA timezone settings (America/Denver and America/Anchorage) to automatically handle daylight saving transitions.
- • Alaska is geographically vast—it's larger than Texas, California, and Montana combined. The 2-hour time difference can make coordination challenging, but it's much less than the 4+ hours that separate Alaska from East Coast cities.
- • Alaska's business sectors (oil, fishing, tourism) often operate on coordinated schedules with the continental US. Understanding this time conversion is essential for anyone conducting business with Alaskan companies or planning travel to Alaska.
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