PDT to AKST Converter
Convert time between Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) and Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)
Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
Time Difference
Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is 0 hours ahead of Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| PDT | AKST |
|---|---|
| 18:00 | 17:00 |
| 20:00 | 19:00 |
| 22:00 | 21:00 |
| 00:00 | 23:00 |
| 02:00 | 01:00 |
| 04:00 | 03:00 |
| 06:00 | 05:00 |
| 08:00 | 07:00 |
| 10:00 | 09:00 |
| 12:00 | 11:00 |
| 14:00 | 13:00 |
| 16:00 | 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 PDT to AKST Time Conversion
Converting time between Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) and Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is essential for coordinating between the US Pacific Coast and Alaska. PDT is UTC-7 (used March to November during daylight saving time), while AKST is UTC-9 (used November to March). PDT is 2 hours ahead of AKST, making it straightforward for business and personal coordination.
This converter is valuable for businesses operating across the Pacific and Alaska regions, particularly those in oil and gas, fishing, tourism, and remote work sectors. Understanding the time difference is crucial for scheduling meetings, coordinating operations, and planning travel between these regions.
Common Use Cases for PDT to AKST Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling meetings between Pacific and Alaska-based operations
- Coordinating oil and gas industry projects
- Managing fishing and seafood industry operations
- Planning conference calls between regions
Personal & Travel
- Planning travel from Pacific region to Alaska
- Coordinating with family and friends in Alaska
- Scheduling virtual events and online meetings
- Understanding time differences for remote work
Time Zone Information
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
Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-9 (UTC-8 during AKDT)
- IANA Timezone: America/Anchorage
- Daylight Saving: Observes daylight saving time (most of Alaska uses AKDT in summer)
- Major Cities: Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Ketchikan
- Coverage: Most of Alaska (except some rural areas)
Quick Reference: PDT to AKST
Remember: PDT is 2 hours ahead of AKST during daylight saving time (March-November). When PST is active (November-March), PST is 3 hours ahead of AKST.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between PDT and AKST?
Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) is UTC-7, while Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is UTC-9. This means PDT is 2 hours ahead of AKST. When it's 12:00 PM in Los Angeles (PDT), it's 10:00 AM in Anchorage (AKST). This 2-hour difference makes Pacific-Alaska coordination relatively straightforward.
When does Alaska use AKST vs AKDT?
Alaska observes daylight saving time similar to the rest of the continental US. AKST (Alaska Standard Time, UTC-9) is active from November to March, while AKDT (Alaska Daylight Time, UTC-8) is active from March to November. During AKDT, the difference with PDT becomes 1 hour. Note that some areas in rural Alaska (like parts of the Aleutian Islands) do not observe daylight saving time.
What are the major cities in PDT and AKST zones?
PDT covers major West Coast cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego, and Portland. AKST covers Alaska's major cities including Anchorage (the largest city in Alaska), Fairbanks, Juneau (the capital), and Ketchikan. Alaska is unique due to its vast geography and sparse population across many time zones.
What are the best times to schedule calls between PDT and AKST?
The 2-hour difference allows for moderate business hour overlap. Morning meetings at 8 AM PDT occur at 6 AM AKST, which is early for most Alaskans. Mid-morning at 10 AM PDT is 8 AM AKST, better for both coasts. Afternoon meetings at 2 PM PDT occur at 12 PM AKST, ideal for lunch coordination. Evening meetings at 4 PM PDT are 2 PM AKST, still within business hours.
How does Alaska differ from the continental US in terms of time zones?
Alaska is unique because much of the state is in its own time zone (AKST/AKDT), separate from the main continental US zones. Additionally, parts of western Alaska (the Aleutian Islands) use Hawaii-Aleutian Time. Most of Alaska does not observe daylight saving time in some areas. This makes Alaska coordination more complex than other US regions.
What industries commonly need PDT to AKST conversion?
Oil and gas industry heavily relies on this conversion for coordinating operations between headquarter offices on the Pacific Coast and extraction sites in Alaska. Fishing and seafood industry coordination is critical, especially during salmon and halibut seasons. Tourism, remote work, telecommunications, and government agencies operating across both regions also frequently use this conversion.
Pro Tips
- • PDT is 2 hours ahead of AKST - a simple calculation: just subtract 2 hours from PDT time to get AKST time.
- • Remember that Alaska has its own daylight saving time (AKDT, UTC-8). When AKDT is active, the difference with PDT becomes just 1 hour.
- • Schedule critical calls before 2 PM PDT (noon AKST) to ensure both teams can participate during normal working hours.
- • Alaska experiences extreme seasonal daylight variations - summer has nearly 24-hour daylight in Fairbanks, while winter is nearly 24-hour darkness. Plan video meetings accordingly.
- • Anchorage is Alaska's business hub and is well-connected for meetings. Plan travel through Anchorage International Airport for most Alaska-bound trips.
- • Many oil and gas operations in Alaska are remote camps with different time zone considerations. Verify specific location time zones before scheduling operational meetings.
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