PDT to MDT Converter
Convert time between Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) and Mountain Daylight Time (MDT)
Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)
Mountain Daylight Time (MDT)
Time Difference
Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) is 0 hours ahead of Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| PDT | MDT |
|---|---|
| 18:00 | 19:00 |
| 20:00 | 21:00 |
| 22:00 | 23:00 |
| 00:00 | 01:00 |
| 02:00 | 03:00 |
| 04:00 | 05:00 |
| 06:00 | 07:00 |
| 08:00 | 09:00 |
| 10:00 | 11:00 |
| 12:00 | 13:00 |
| 14:00 | 15:00 |
| 16:00 | 17:00 |
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 MDT Time Conversion
Converting time between Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) and Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) is essential for coordinating between the US Pacific and Mountain regions during daylight saving time. PDT is UTC-7 (used March to November), while MDT is UTC-6 (also used March to November). MDT is exactly 1 hour ahead of PDT, making it a simple but important conversion for regional scheduling and business coordination.
This converter is perfect for scheduling meetings, conference calls, and coordinating business operations between West Coast cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco, and Mountain region cities like Denver and Salt Lake City. The one-hour difference makes this conversion straightforward, but understanding when it applies is important for year-round scheduling.
Common Use Cases for PDT to MDT Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling meetings between Pacific and Mountain region offices
- Coordinating project deadlines across time zones
- Planning conference calls and webinars between regions
- Managing distributed teams in Pacific and Mountain areas
Personal & Travel
- Planning travel between Pacific and Mountain time zones
- Coordinating with family and friends across regions
- 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
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
- Coverage: Mountain United States and parts of Canada
Quick Reference: PDT to MDT
Remember: MDT is always 1 hour ahead of PDT during daylight saving time (March to November). Outside these months, PST to MST applies, which also has a 1-hour difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between PDT and MDT?
Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) is UTC-7, while Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) is UTC-6. This means MDT is 1 hour ahead of PDT. When it's 12:00 PM in Los Angeles (PDT), it's 1:00 PM in Denver (MDT). This simple one-hour difference makes PDT to MDT conversion one of the easiest timezone conversions in North America.
When do PDT and MDT apply?
Both PDT and MDT are active during daylight saving time, which runs from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. Outside these dates, PDT becomes PST (Pacific Standard Time, UTC-8) and MDT becomes MST (Mountain Standard Time, UTC-7). The 1-hour difference between Pacific and Mountain time zones remains consistent throughout the year, whether it's PDT/MDT or PST/MST.
Which cities use PDT and MDT?
PDT covers the US Pacific Coast and includes major cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego, Portland, and Sacramento. MDT covers the Mountain region and includes cities like Denver, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, Boise, and Phoenix (Arizona doesn't observe daylight saving time). Both regions are economically important with significant tech, business, and tourism industries.
What are the best times to schedule calls between PDT and MDT regions?
The 1-hour difference means there's excellent overlap for business coordination. Morning meetings at 8-9 AM PDT occur at 9-10 AM MDT. Afternoon meetings at 2-3 PM PDT occur at 3-4 PM MDT. The entire business day (9 AM-5 PM) in one region overlaps with the other region's business hours, making scheduling very convenient compared to longer timezone differences.
How does the PDT to MDT difference compare to other US timezone differences?
The 1-hour difference between PDT and MDT is the smallest within the mainland US. In contrast, PDT to EDT is 3 hours, PDT to CST/CDT is 2 hours, and PDT to EST is 3 hours. The relatively small difference between Pacific and Mountain time zones makes this region particularly convenient for business operations and personal scheduling.
What should I remember about daylight saving transitions?
Both PDT and MDT transition on the same dates. On the second Sunday in March, PST and MST switch to PDT and MDT at 2:00 AM local time. On the first Sunday in November, they switch back. Since both regions transition simultaneously, the 1-hour difference remains constant. However, always verify meeting times are communicated in the correct timezone during transition weeks.
Pro Tips
- • The 1-hour difference between PDT and MDT is the simplest US timezone conversion - just add 1 hour to PDT to get MDT.
- • Both regions observe daylight saving time on the same schedule (second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November), so the 1-hour difference never changes.
- • Morning standup meetings at 8 AM PDT are 9 AM MDT - perfect timing for early risers in Denver while being reasonable for West Coasters.
- • Use calendar apps that automatically handle timezone conversions to eliminate scheduling errors and reduce manual calculation errors.
- • The Pacific-Mountain corridor includes major tech hubs (Silicon Valley, Seattle, Denver, Salt Lake City) with frequent business coordination needs.
- • Arizona doesn't observe daylight saving time, so Phoenix stays on MST year-round, creating varying differences with Pacific time (1 or 2 hours depending on season).
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