How to Convert Time Zones Without Mistakes (2026 Guide)

Remote work, online classes and family in other countries mean we all juggle time zones now. Missing a call by an hour is easy, especially in March and October/November, when daylight saving time changes on different dates in different countries. This guide explains how time zones work and how to convert them reliably.

UTC: the reference clock

Every time zone is defined as an offset from UTC (Coordinated Universal Time), the world's reference time. New York in winter is UTC−5; Tokyo is UTC+9. To convert between two places, go through UTC:

1. Convert the local time to UTC (subtract the offset).
2. Convert UTC to the destination (add the destination's offset).

Example: 9:00 AM in New York (UTC−5) in January.

• To UTC: 9:00 + 5 = 14:00 UTC
• To Tokyo (UTC+9): 14:00 + 9 = 23:00, so 11:00 PM the same day in Tokyo

Common offsets

City	Standard time	Daylight saving time
Los Angeles	UTC−8	UTC−7
New York	UTC−5	UTC−4
São Paulo	UTC−3	no DST (abolished in 2019)
London	UTC+0	UTC+1
Paris / Berlin	UTC+1	UTC+2
Dubai	UTC+4	no DST
India	UTC+5:30	no DST
Tokyo	UTC+9	no DST
Sydney	UTC+10	UTC+11 (Oct–Apr)

Note the half-hour offset in India. Nepal (UTC+5:45) and parts of Australia also use non-whole offsets.

The daylight saving time trap

Countries that use daylight saving time (DST) don't all switch on the same day. In 2026:

• United States and Canada: clocks go forward on March 8 and back on November 1.
• European Union and the UK: forward on March 29, back on October 25.
• Southern Hemisphere (for example, Sydney): the opposite season, starting in October and ending in April.

For a few weeks each spring and autumn, the gap between New York and London is 4 hours instead of 5. Recurring meetings set in one time zone will move for people in the other. Always double-check calls during those weeks.

How to schedule a meeting across time zones

1. List everyone's city, not just the time zone abbreviation. "CST" can mean US Central Time or China Standard Time.
2. Find the overlap in working hours (say, 9:00–17:00 local). New York and London overlap from 9:00 to 12:00 New York time. New York and Tokyo have almost no overlap, so someone will be early or late.
3. Rotate the inconvenience for recurring meetings so the same team isn't always on the late call.
4. Send the invite from a calendar app. It converts the time for each guest automatically.
5. Write the time in two zones in the message: "Tuesday 10:00 New York / 15:00 London".

Crossing midnight and the date line

Large offsets change the date, not just the hour. A call at 6:00 PM Monday in Los Angeles is 10:00 AM Tuesday in Tokyo while the US is on daylight time, and 11:00 AM Tuesday in winter, because Japan never changes its clocks. When the date matters, state the day in both places.

Our time zone converter shows your local time next to the time in any city, live, with DST already applied, so you don't have to remember the dates above.

Frequently asked questions

What is the time difference between New York and London?

Usually 5 hours (London ahead). For a few weeks in March and in late October, when only one of them has changed clocks, the difference is 4 hours.

When does daylight saving time start in 2026?

In the US and Canada on March 8, 2026; in the EU and UK on March 29, 2026.

Does Brazil have daylight saving time?

No. Brazil abolished daylight saving time in 2019. São Paulo stays on UTC−3 all year.

What is UTC?

Coordinated Universal Time, the reference time standard from which every time zone is defined as an offset.

Informational content only. For legal, financial or health decisions, consult a qualified professional.