EST to PST Conversion
Eastern Time (ET) and Pacific Time (PT) are the two most commonly referenced time zones in the United States. The difference is always 3 hours, with Eastern ahead of Pacific. When DST is active (March to November), EDT is UTC-4 and PDT is UTC-7. In standard time (November to March), EST is UTC-5 and PST is UTC-8.
Current Difference
| Eastern (ET) | Pacific (PT) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 AM | 6:00 AM | -3 hours |
| 12:00 PM | 9:00 AM | -3 hours |
| 3:00 PM | 12:00 PM | -3 hours |
| 6:00 PM | 3:00 PM | -3 hours |
| 9:00 PM | 6:00 PM | -3 hours |
| 11:59 PM | 8:59 PM | -3 hours |
When to Call Across Coasts
The 3 hour gap means the practical calling window is limited. The best overlap is 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM ET (7:00 AM to 1:00 PM PT). Early meetings in NY mean very early mornings in LA. Late afternoon meetings in NY are still acceptable on the West Coast.
Common Use Cases
- Remote standups: 9:00 AM PT is 12:00 PM ET (lunch on the East Coast)
- Product launches: Coordinating a 2:00 PM ET announcement means 11:00 AM PT
- Market hours: US stock markets open at 9:30 AM ET (6:30 AM PT) and close at 4:00 PM ET (1:00 PM PT)
- Sports broadcasts: A 8:00 PM ET primetime game starts at 5:00 PM PT (before dinner on the West Coast)