PDT to EST Converter
Convert time between Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) and Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)
Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Time Difference
Eastern Standard Time (EST) is 0 hours ahead of Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| PDT | EST |
|---|---|
| 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 | 19:00 |
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 EST Time Conversion
Converting time between Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) and Eastern Standard Time (EST) is essential for coast-to-coast coordination across the United States. PDT is UTC-7, while EST is UTC-5, making EST 2 hours ahead of PDT.
This conversion is crucial for business operations spanning the entire continental United States, entertainment industry coordination, technology company operations, and cross-country communications. PDT is observed during daylight saving time (March to November), while EST is observed during winter months (November to March). This means the actual time difference can be 2 or 3 hours depending on whether daylight saving time is active on both coasts.
Common Use Cases for PDT to EST Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling coast-to-coast business meetings between California and East Coast offices
- Coordinating technology company operations across multiple US coasts
- Managing entertainment industry production and broadcasting schedules
- Planning nationwide product launches and announcements
Personal & Travel
- Planning cross-country travel and flight schedules
- Coordinating with family and friends across the continental US
- Scheduling virtual events for nationwide participation
- Watching live events and sports broadcasts across time zones
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, Sacramento
- Coverage: Pacific United States and Canada (during daylight saving time)
Eastern Standard Time (EST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-5 (UTC-4 during EDT)
- IANA Timezone: America/New_York
- Daylight Saving: Second Sunday in March to First Sunday in November
- Major Cities: New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Miami, Washington DC
- Coverage: Eastern United States and Eastern Canada
Quick Reference: PDT to EST
Remember: EST is always 2 hours ahead of PDT (or 3 hours when PST is active)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between PDT and EST?
PDT (Pacific Daylight Time) is UTC-7 and EST (Eastern Standard Time) is UTC-5, making EST 2 hours ahead of PDT. However, the actual time difference depends on daylight saving time. PDT is only active during March to November, while EST is only active during November to March. When both regions are observing daylight saving time (EDT for East), the difference remains 3 hours. When only PDT is active but EST has switched to standard time, the difference is 2 hours.
When do PDT and EST transition to other time zones?
PDT (Pacific Daylight Time) is active from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. Outside these dates, PST (Pacific Standard Time at UTC-8) is observed. EST (Eastern Standard Time) is active from the first Sunday in November to the second Sunday in March. Outside these dates, EDT (Eastern Daylight Time at UTC-4) is observed. This creates different time differences throughout the year: 2 hours when PDT is active and EST is standard, 3 hours when both are observing daylight saving time, and other variations.
Which US regions use PDT and EST?
PDT is used in the Pacific Time Zone, covering the West Coast including California, Washington, Oregon, and parts of Nevada and Idaho. EST is used in the Eastern Time Zone, covering the East Coast including New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, and other eastern states, plus much of eastern Canada. These represent the two major coasts of North America and the vast majority of the US population.
Why is PDT to EST conversion important?
This conversion is essential for any cross-country coordination within the United States. Major business hubs on both coasts, technology companies with distributed offices, entertainment industry operations, sports broadcasting, and national communications all require accurate PDT to EST conversion. It's the most common time zone conversion within the US.
How do I calculate PDT to EST conversion manually?
When PDT is active and EST is standard (not EDT), add 2 hours to PDT time to get EST time. Example: 2:00 PM PDT + 2 hours = 4:00 PM EST. When both are observing daylight saving time (PDT and EDT), add 3 hours. Example: 2:00 PM PDT + 3 hours = 5:00 PM EDT. Always check which time zones are currently active when performing manual conversions.
What are the major cities in PDT and EST?
PDT covers major West Coast cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego, Portland, and Sacramento. EST covers major East Coast cities including New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Miami, and Washington DC. These cities represent major economic, cultural, and political centers in the United States.
Pro Tips
- • Remember that the PDT to EST difference is 2 or 3 hours depending on whether both coasts are observing daylight saving time simultaneously.
- • The best meeting times for coast-to-coast calls are late morning on the West Coast (9-11 AM PDT) and early afternoon on the East Coast (11 AM-1 PM EST).
- • Use calendar apps that automatically handle time zone conversions to avoid scheduling conflicts during daylight saving time transitions.
- • Remember that the US has 4 time zones, so coordinating with the Mountain and Central regions adds complexity to nationwide scheduling.
- • TV and sports broadcasts often show times for both ET (Eastern) and PT (Pacific), making them easy references for time zone differences.
- • When traveling between coasts, most people adjust to local time within 1-2 days, but the 2-3 hour difference is much easier than international travel!
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