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.
See full time zone mapWhat 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.
Where and When is EST Observed?
North America
US states using EST in the winter and EDT in the summer
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Kentucky - eastern partscounties 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, Hancock, 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
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Tennessee - eastern countiesAnderson, Blount, Bradley, Campbell, Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hamilton, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Loudon, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Polk, Rhea, Roane, Scott, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi, Union, and Washington
Canadian provinces/territories using EST in the winter and EDT in the summer
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Ontario - most parts east of 90 West and two communities west of 90 WestShebandowan, Upsala
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Quebec - most of itexcept East of 63 West, Blanc Sablon which observe AST all year
Canadian provinces/territories using EST all year round
Mexican states using EST all year round
Caribbean
Caribbean countries using EST all year round
Central America
Central American countries using EST all year round
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