How to Convert EST to PST
Eastern Standard Time (EST) and Pacific Standard Time (PST) are time zones used in the United States. EST is the time zone for the east coast, while PST is for the west coast.
- EST is UTC -5 hours.
- PST is UTC -8 hours.
This means that PST is 3 hours behind EST. To convert EST to PST, you simply subtract 3 hours from the time in EST.
Examples:
| EST (Eastern Standard Time) | PST (Pacific Standard Time) |
|---|---|
| 12:00 PM (noon) | 09:00 AM |
| 03:00 PM | 12:00 PM |
| 06:00 PM | 03:00 PM |
| 09:00 PM | 06:00 PM |
| 11:00 PM | 08:00 PM |
Time Zones and Daylight Saving Time (DST)
Time zones are regions of the Earth divided based on their local time, determined by the Earth’s rotation. The world is divided into 24 time zones, each representing one hour difference in time relative to UTC (Coordinated Universal Time).
Daylight Saving Time (DST):
Daylight Saving Time is a practice where the clocks are set forward by 1 hour during warmer months to make better use of daylight in the evening. In the U.S., DST begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. During this period, time zones shift from standard time (EST, PST) to daylight time (EDT, PDT).
- Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) = UTC -4
- Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) = UTC -7
When DST is active, the time difference between EDT and PDT remains the same: 3 hours. However, EST and PST only apply outside of DST.
Examples During Daylight Saving Time:
| EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) | PDT (Pacific Daylight Time) |
|---|---|
| 12:00 PM (noon) | 09:00 AM |
| 03:00 PM | 12:00 PM |
| 06:00 PM | 03:00 PM |
| 09:00 PM | 06:00 PM |
| 11:00 PM | 08:00 PM |
Key Points to Remember:
- EST is UTC -5, and PST is UTC -8, which means PST is 3 hours behind EST.
- During Daylight Saving Time, EDT is UTC -4, and PDT is UTC -7.
- The time difference between these zones (3 hours) stays the same throughout the year, but the labels change between standard time and daylight time.
For example:
- 2 PM EST = 11 AM PST
- 2 PM EDT = 11 AM PDT during DST.
Featured photo by Jens Kreuter on Unsplash