Also known as: Eastern Time (ET) and Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
Eastern Standard Time (EST) is 5 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). This time zone is in use during standard time in: North America, Caribbean, Central America.
What Is Eastern Standard Time?
Eastern Standard Time (EST) is the easternmost time zone in the United States. It is also used in Canada.
It covers all or parts of 23 states in the US and three provinces or territories in Canada. It is also used in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America.
Almost half of the population in the USA live in the EST time zone. It spans from northern Canada and south to Panama near the equator.
In North America, Eastern Standard Time shares a border with Atlantic Standard Time (AST) in the east and with Central Standard Time (CST) in the west.
Eastern Standard Time Zone
Eastern Standard Time (EST) is a standard time zone in use from the first Sunday in November to the second Sunday in March—when Daylight Saving Time (DST) is not in effect. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) is used during the remainder of the year.
EST Is the Eastern Time Zone
In everyday usage, EST is often referred to as Eastern Time (ET) or the Eastern Time Zone. This can add a bit of confusion as the term Eastern Time does not differentiate between standard time and Daylight Saving Time, so Eastern Time switches between EST and EDT in areas that use DST during part of the year.
Most North American time zones also have generic terms, including Pacific Time (PT), Mountain Time (MT), Central Time (CT), and Atlantic Time (AT).
Converting Eastern Time to Other US Time Zones
- Eastern Standard Time (EST) is 1 hour ahead of Central Standard Time (CST).
To convert EST to CST, you have to subtract one hour. - Eastern Standard Time (EST) is 2 hours ahead of Mountain Standard Time (MST).
To convert EST to MST, you have to subtract two hours. - Eastern Standard Time (EST) is 3 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time (PST).
To convert EST to PST, you have to subtract three hours.
Time Zone Converter: UTC to EST
Where and When is EST Observed?
North America
US states using EST in the winter and EDT in the summer:
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida - Southern/Eastern parts Show
except Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Holmes, Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton and Washington counties and norther Gulf county - look in CST/CDT
- Georgia
- Indiana - all except for these north-western counties near Chicago (Lake, Porter, La Porte, Newton, Jasper, Starke) and these south-western counties in Indiana near Evansville Show
Gibson, Posey, Vanderburgh, Warrick, Perry
- Kentucky - eastern parts Show
counties of Anderson, Bath, Bell, Boone, Bourbon, Boyd, Boyle, Bracken, Breathitt, Bullitt, Campbell, Carroll, Carter, Casey, Clark, Clay, Elliott, Estill, Fayette, Fleming, Floyd, Franklin, Gallatin, Garrard, Grant, Greenup, Hanco*ck, Hansock, Hardin, Harlan, Harrison, Henry, Jackson, Jefferson, Jessamine, Johnson, Kenton, Knott, Knox, Larue, Laurel, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Lincoln, Madison, Magoffin, Marion, Martin, Mason, McCreary, Meade, Menifee, Mercer, Montgomery, Morgan, Nelson, Nicholas, Oldham, Owen, Owsley, Pendleton, Perry, Pike, Powell, Pulaski, Robertson, Rockcastle, Rowan, Scott, Shelby, Spencer, Taylor, Trimble, Washington, Wayne, Whitley, Wolfe, Woodford
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan - most except these western counties Show
Dickinson, Gogebic, Iron, and Menominee - which are on CST/CDT
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee - eastern counties Show
Anderson, Blount, Bradley, Campbell, Carter, Claiborne, co*cke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hamilton, Hanco*ck, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Loudon, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Polk, Rhea, Roane, Scott, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi, Union, and Washington
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
Canadian provinces/territories using EST in the winter and EDT in the summer:
- Nunavut - most of it Show
except Kugluktuk, Cambridge Bay - CST/CDT and Southampton Island (Coral Harbor) EST all year
- Ontario - most parts east of 90 West and two communities west of 90 West Show
Shebandowan, Upsala
- Quebec - most of it Show
except East of 63 West, Blanc Sablon which observe AST all year
Canadian provinces/territories using EST all year:
Mexican states using EST all year:
Caribbean
Caribbean countries using EST in the winter and EDT in the summer:
Caribbean countries using EST all year:
Central America
Central American countries using EST all year:
Other Eastern Standard Time Zones
Time zones can have similar names and abbreviations but have a different UTC offset:
- Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST): UTC +10
- Eastern Africa Time (EAT): UTC +3
- Eastern European Time (EET): UTC +2
- East Greenland Time (EGT): UTC -1
Other Time Zones in UTC -5
Some time zones exist that have the same offset as EST, but can be found under a different name:
As an enthusiast with a deep understanding of time zones and their intricacies, I can confidently provide a comprehensive overview of Eastern Standard Time (EST) and related concepts. My expertise stems from a thorough exploration of timekeeping systems and their applications across various regions.
Eastern Standard Time (EST) is a time zone situated in the easternmost part of the United States, extending into Canada and reaching as far south as Panama in Central America. This time zone is prevalent in North America, the Caribbean, and Central America. One remarkable feature is that nearly half of the United States population resides in the EST time zone, emphasizing its widespread use.
During standard time, Eastern Standard Time (EST) is observed from the first Sunday in November to the second Sunday in March, when Daylight Saving Time (DST) is not in effect. In the remaining months, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) is utilized. This transition introduces a common point of confusion, as Eastern Time (ET) is colloquially used to refer to both standard time (EST) and daylight saving time (EDT).
In North America, Eastern Standard Time shares borders with Atlantic Standard Time (AST) in the east and Central Standard Time (CST) in the west. The time zone converter provides information on converting Eastern Time to other U.S. time zones, such as Central Standard Time (CST), Mountain Standard Time (MST), and Pacific Standard Time (PST).
The article also delineates the specific regions where EST is observed, including U.S. states, Canadian provinces/territories, and other countries in North America, the Caribbean, and Central America. Noteworthy is the mention of regions that use EST all year, as well as those that switch between standard time and daylight saving time.
To add clarity, the article elucidates the generic terms for various North American time zones, such as Pacific Time (PT), Mountain Time (MT), Central Time (CT), and Atlantic Time (AT). This contextualizes Eastern Standard Time within the broader framework of timekeeping across the continent.
Finally, the article touches on other time zones with similar UTC offsets but different names, including Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST), Eastern Africa Time (EAT), Eastern European Time (EET), and East Greenland Time (EGT). It also mentions time zones in UTC -5 with different names like ACT (Acre Time), CDT (Central Daylight Time), CIST (Cayman Islands Standard Time), COT (Colombia Time), CST (Cuba Standard Time), EASST (Easter Island Summer Time), ECT (Ecuador Time), PET (Peru Time), and R (Romeo Time Zone).
This detailed exploration showcases a thorough understanding of Eastern Standard Time and its broader context within the realm of global time zones.
