What is the difference between ET, EST, and EDT?

ET (Eastern Time) is the general term. EST (Eastern Standard Time) is used in winter. EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) is used in summer. See the ET vs EST vs EDT explained page for the full breakdown.

Does all of Florida use Eastern Time?

No. The Florida Panhandle west of the Apalachicola River uses Central Time. The rest of the state uses Eastern Time.

Is New York on EST or EDT right now?

New York is currently on EDT (Eastern Daylight Time), which is UTC−4.

What time zone is Washington DC in?

Washington DC is in the Eastern Time zone. It is currently on EDT (UTC−4).

When does Eastern Time change its clocks in 2026?

Clocks fall back to EST on 01 November 2026. Clocks will spring forward to EDT on 14 March 2027.

What should I do if I need the current time for a different US zone?

Check the US Time Now page for live clocks for every US time zone.

Eastern Time Now (ET)

Live Eastern Time Clock

Washington D.C. runs on this clock. So do New York, Atlanta, Miami, and Boston. When the New York Stock Exchange opens at 9:30 a.m., this is the time it opens on.

Is It EST or EDT Right Now?

It is currently EDT (Eastern Daylight Time), UTC−4.

The switch to EST (Eastern Standard Time), UTC−5, happens on Sunday, 01 November 2026, at 2:00 a.m. local time. Clocks fall back one hour to 1:00 a.m.

The next spring forward is Sunday, 14 March 2027.

Eastern Time UTC Offset Explained

Abbreviation	Full Name	UTC Offset	When Used
EST	Eastern Standard Time	UTC−5	Early November to early March
EDT	Eastern Daylight Time	UTC−4	Early March to early November

States and Major Cities on Eastern Time

States fully on Eastern Time: Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia.

States partially on Eastern Time: - Florida: Most of the state is Eastern; the Panhandle west of the Apalachicola River is Central. - Indiana: Most of the state is Eastern; 12 counties in the northwest and southwest are Central. - Kentucky: The eastern half is Eastern; the western half is Central. - Michigan: Most of the state is Eastern; the four counties of the Upper Peninsula that border Wisconsin are Central. - Tennessee: The eastern third is Eastern; the rest is Central.

Major cities on Eastern Time: - New York City (New York) - Washington DC (District of Columbia) - Atlanta (Georgia) - Miami (Florida) - Boston (Massachusetts)

Eastern Time vs Other US Zones

Eastern Time is the reference for US financial markets. The New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ open at 9:30 a.m. ET and close at 4:00 p.m. ET.

Zone	Time Difference from Eastern
Central	1 hour behind
Mountain	2 hours behind
Pacific	3 hours behind

When Eastern Time Observes DST

Eastern Time observes daylight saving time from the second Sunday of March to the first Sunday of November.

Spring forward 2027: 14 March, 2:00 a.m. EST → 3:00 a.m. EDT
Fall back 2027: 07 November, 2:00 a.m. EDT → 1:00 a.m. EST

Between March and November, Eastern Time shares a clock with New York, Toronto, and Nassau. Between November and March, it matches Bogotá, Lima, and Panama.