Your clock is synced to your browser settings.
Time in United States:
Current Time in All 23 North American Countries
Exact Current Time in United States
The current time in the United States depends on the region because the country has multiple time zones.
The official time zone for Washington D.C., the capital, is Eastern Time (ET).
The USA spans a wide area, covering six primary time zones across the mainland and additional ones for Alaska and Hawaii. This makes accurate timekeeping essential for travel, communication, and business.
You can also check the current time page for a global world clock, or use our time converter tool to compare U.S. time with other countries.
👉 The standard time zone used for this page is:
IANA Time Zone:
America/New_YorkUTC Offset: UTC −5 (Eastern Standard Time) / UTC −4 (Eastern Daylight Time)
United States Time Zones
The United States has 11 time zones, and six are main time zones (excluding territories). Here’s a quick breakdown:
| Time Zone | Example City | UTC Offset |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Time (ET) | New York, Washington D.C. | UTC −5 / −4 DST |
| Central Time (CT) | Chicago, Dallas | UTC −6 / −5 DST |
| Mountain Time (MT) | Denver, Phoenix (no DST) | UTC −7 / −6 DST |
| Pacific Time (PT) | Los Angeles, Seattle | UTC −8 / −7 DST |
| Alaska Time | Anchorage | UTC −9 / −8 DST |
| Hawaii–Aleutian Time | Honolulu, Adak | UTC −10 (no DST in Honolulu) |
Eastern Time (ET) is typically used as the national reference time for broadcasting and government schedules.
Daylight Saving Time in the USA
The United States observes Daylight Saving Time (DST) in most states, except Hawaii and most of Arizona.
DST Starts: Second Sunday in March → clocks go forward 1 hour
DST Ends: First Sunday in November → clocks go back 1 hour
During DST, time differences between states and other countries may shift, so checking local time helps avoid confusion.
Popular US Cities & Their Time
| City | Time Zone | Typical Offset |
|---|---|---|
| New York | Eastern Time | UTC −5 / −4 DST |
| Chicago | Central Time | UTC −6 / −5 DST |
| Denver | Mountain Time | UTC −7 / −6 DST |
| Los Angeles | Pacific Time | UTC −8 / −7 DST |
| Anchorage | Alaska Time | UTC −9 / −8 DST |
| Honolulu | Hawaii–Aleutian Time | UTC −10 |
Large cities across the USA are spread over different time zones, with a time difference of up to 6 hours from east to west.
Quick Facts About USA Time
🕓 Number of Time Zones: 6 (mainland) + additional for territories
🏙 Capital City: Washington D.C.
🌐 IANA Time Zone ID:
America/New_York🕐 Default Time Zone: Eastern Time (ET)
🌞 DST Observed: Yes, except in Hawaii and most of Arizona
🕓 UTC Offset: UTC −5 (EST) / UTC −4 (EDT)
The U.S. uses multiple time zones due to its vast size. Eastern Time is the most widely referenced zone, used by major cities and federal institutions.
For more details, visit 👉 Time in the United States — Wikipedia
Frequently Asked Questions
How many time zones are in the USA?
The United States has 11 time zones including its territories. The main six are Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific, Alaska, and Hawaii–Aleutian.
What is the official time zone of the United States?
The official time zone for the capital city, Washington D.C., is Eastern Time (ET). The IANA time zone ID is America/New_York.
Does the USA use Daylight Saving Time?
Yes, the USA uses Daylight Saving Time (DST). Clocks move forward by one hour in March and back by one hour in November, except in some regions like Arizona and Hawaii.
Which city time is shown for the United States on this page?
The time displayed on this page is based on Washington D.C., which follows Eastern Time (ET). This is the default reference time for the United States.
What is the IANA time zone ID for the USA?
The IANA time zone ID is America/New_York.