UTC to AKST Converter
Convert time between Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)
Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
Time Difference
Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is 0 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)
Select Date
Select Time
Quick Reference
| UTC | AKST |
|---|---|
| 02:00 | 17:00 |
| 04:00 | 19:00 |
| 06:00 | 21:00 |
| 08:00 | 23:00 |
| 10:00 | 01:00 |
| 12:00 | 03:00 |
| 14:00 | 05:00 |
| 16:00 | 07:00 |
| 18:00 | 09:00 |
| 20:00 | 11:00 |
| 22:00 | 13:00 |
| 00:00 | 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 UTC to AKST Time Conversion
Converting time from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) to Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is essential for international coordination with Alaskan teams and businesses. UTC is the global standard, while AKST is UTC-9, making AKST 9 hours behind UTC.
This conversion is crucial for global companies with operations in Alaska, particularly in Anchorage, Juneau, and Fairbanks. Our converter uses the IANA timezone database for accurate calculations, automatically handling daylight saving time transitions.
Common Use Cases for UTC to AKST Conversion
Business & Work
- Scheduling international meetings for Alaskan participants
- Coordinating global operations with Alaska-based teams
- Planning international business activities with Anchorage and other Alaskan cities
Personal & Travel
- Arranging international travel to Alaska
- Coordinating with Alaskan family from abroad
- Planning global virtual events for Alaskan audiences
Time Zone Information
Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)
- UTC Offset: UTC+0
- IANA Timezone: UTC
- Daylight Saving: No daylight saving time
- Major Cities: Greenwich, London (in winter), Reykjavik
- Coverage: Global standard time reference
Alaska Standard Time (AKST)
- UTC Offset: UTC-9 (AKDT is UTC-8)
- IANA Timezone: America/Anchorage
- Daylight Saving: Second Sunday in March to First Sunday in November
- Major Cities: Anchorage, Juneau, Fairbanks, Ketchikan
- Coverage: Most of Alaska
Quick Reference: UTC to AKST
Remember: AKST is always 9 hours behind UTC (during standard time)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between UTC and AKST?
UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) is at UTC+0, while AKST (Alaska Standard Time) is UTC-9, making AKST 9 hours behind UTC. During daylight saving time (March to November), Alaska Daylight Time (AKDT) is UTC-8, which is 8 hours behind UTC.
When does AKST change to AKDT?
Alaska Standard Time (AKST) transitions to Alaska Daylight Time (AKDT) on the second Sunday in March at 2:00 AM, and transitions back on the first Sunday in November at 2:00 AM. During AKDT, the time difference with UTC is 8 hours instead of 9.
Which regions use Alaska Standard Time?
Alaska Standard Time is used throughout most of Alaska, including major cities like Anchorage, Juneau, Fairbanks, and Ketchikan. The state of Alaska spans multiple time zones, but AKST is used in most populated areas. Hawaii and some US territories use Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time instead.
Is UTC always constant, or does it change?
UTC is constant and does not change. It serves as the global reference time used for scientific, military, and aviation purposes. Unlike regional time zones, UTC does not observe daylight saving time, making it ideal for international coordination.
How do I convert UTC to AKST manually?
To convert UTC to AKST, simply subtract 9 hours from the UTC time. For example, if it is 8:00 PM UTC, the corresponding AKST time would be 11:00 AM (20:00 - 9 hours = 11:00). If the result is negative, add 24 hours and subtract 1 day.
Why is understanding UTC to AKST conversion important?
Understanding UTC to AKST conversion is crucial for coordinating with teams and businesses in Alaska, international travel planning, virtual meetings across time zones, and global communication. The significant 9-hour offset makes accurate conversion essential to prevent scheduling errors and confusion.
Pro Tips
- • AKST is only observed from November to March. From March to November, Alaska uses AKDT (Alaska Daylight Time) with an 8-hour difference from UTC.
- • UTC time is often displayed with a Z suffix (e.g., 8:00 PM UTC might be written as 20:00Z), indicating it's in the Zulu or UTC timezone.
- • Use a converter like this one for daylight saving transitions to avoid miscalculations when AKST switches to AKDT or vice versa.
- • When scheduling international meetings with Alaskan teams, always confirm whether participants are observing standard time (AKST) or daylight time (AKDT).
- • Alaska's significant time offset from UTC makes it an important consideration for global teams. Double-check conversion calculations for critical scheduling.
- • The 9-hour difference between UTC and AKST means that when it's noon in Alaska, it's already 9:00 PM UTC the same day.
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