PST to MDT Converter
Convert time between Pacific Standard Time (PST) and Mountain Daylight Time (MDT)
Pacific Standard Time (PST)
Mountain Daylight Time (MDT)
Time Difference
Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) is 0 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time (PST)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| PST | 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 PST to MDT Time Conversion
Converting time between Pacific Standard Time (PST) and Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) is important for coordinating between the Pacific and Mountain regions during different seasons. PST is UTC-8 (used November to March), while MDT is UTC-6 (used March to November). MDT is exactly 2 hours ahead of PST, making this conversion relevant during the overlap period when PST is in effect but MDT is in use.
This converter is useful for business operations, travel planning, and communications between West Coast organizations and Mountain region teams, particularly when dealing with seasonal timezone transitions.
Common Use Cases for PST to MDT Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling meetings between Pacific and Mountain region offices during seasonal transitions
- Coordinating project deadlines across time zones
- Planning conference calls and webinars between regions
- Managing distributed teams during daylight saving time changes
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 during daylight saving transitions
Time Zone Information
Pacific Standard Time (PST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-8 (UTC-7 during PDT)
- 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: PST to MDT
Remember: MDT is always 2 hours ahead of PST. This 2-hour difference occurs when PST is active (November-March) and MDT is active (March-November), typically during the transition periods in March and November.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between PST and MDT?
Pacific Standard Time (PST) is UTC-8, while Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) is UTC-6. This means MDT is 2 hours ahead of PST. When it's 12:00 PM in Los Angeles (PST), it's 2:00 PM in Denver (MDT). This 2-hour difference occurs during the transition periods when PST and MDT are simultaneously active.
When do PST and MDT overlap?
PST (Pacific Standard Time) is active from the first Sunday in November to the second Sunday in March, while MDT (Mountain Daylight Time) is active from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. The overlap periods are brief: early March (when PDT is ending and MDT is beginning) and early November (when MDT is ending and PST is beginning). During most of the year, the Pacific region uses PDT and the Mountain region uses MST, not PST and MDT.
How does PST to MDT differ from PST to MST or PDT to MDT?
PST to MST has a 1-hour difference (November-March when both are standard times). PDT to MDT has a 1-hour difference (March-November when both are daylight times). PST to MDT has a 2-hour difference, which occurs only during brief transition periods. PST to PDT/EDT conversions during winter, and PDT/EDT to MST conversions during summer. Understanding the seasonal context is important for accurate calculations.
Which cities are affected by PST and MDT?
PST covers Pacific Coast cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego, and Portland during winter months. MDT covers Mountain region cities like Denver, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, and Boise during daylight saving time (March-November). Arizona (Phoenix) does not observe daylight saving time, remaining on MST year-round. Hawaii and parts of Alaska also don't observe daylight saving time.
What are the best times to schedule calls between PST and MDT regions?
During the brief overlap periods (early March and early November), the 2-hour difference means limited business overlap. Morning meetings at 8 AM PST occur at 10 AM MDT, while afternoon meetings at 3 PM PST occur at 5 PM MDT. For most of the year, it's better to use PST-MST (1-hour) or PDT-MDT (1-hour) conversions which provide more consistent scheduling.
Should I use PST to MDT for regular scheduling?
For regular business operations, you should typically use PST-MST (November-March) or PDT-MDT (March-November) conversions instead of PST-MDT. PST-MDT is primarily relevant for transition weeks during daylight saving time changes. Use a calendar or scheduling tool that automatically handles timezone conversions to avoid confusion during these transition periods.
Pro Tips
- • PST to MDT has a 2-hour difference, but this only applies during brief transition periods (early March and early November). For most of the year, use PST-MST or PDT-MDT instead.
- • Remember: PST is active November-March, PDT is active March-November. MDT is active March-November, MST is active November-March. Plan accordingly for consistent timezone conversions.
- • During daylight saving time transitions (second Sunday in March and first Sunday in November), confusion is common. Use timezone-aware calendar tools to prevent scheduling errors.
- • Arizona does not observe daylight saving time, remaining on MST year-round. Always verify timezone status when scheduling with Arizona-based teams.
- • For long-term coordination between Pacific and Mountain regions, establish a standard timezone (like UTC or EST) for all internal communications to eliminate confusion.
- • The 2-hour PST-MDT difference is less commonly needed than PST-MST or PDT-MDT. Most business coordination uses the 1-hour conversions that occur during standard or daylight time periods.
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