Understanding Time Zones
What is UTC?
UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) is the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks and time. It's the successor to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and serves as the baseline for all other time zones.
Major Time Zones
EST/EDT (Eastern Time)
UTC-5 (Standard) / UTC-4 (Daylight)
New York, Toronto, Miami
CST/CDT (Central Time)
UTC-6 (Standard) / UTC-5 (Daylight)
Chicago, Dallas, Mexico City
MST/MDT (Mountain Time)
UTC-7 (Standard) / UTC-6 (Daylight)
Denver, Phoenix, Salt Lake City
PST/PDT (Pacific Time)
UTC-8 (Standard) / UTC-7 (Daylight)
Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle
GMT/BST (Greenwich Time)
UTC+0 (Standard) / UTC+1 (Daylight)
London, Dublin, Lisbon
CET/CEST (Central European)
UTC+1 (Standard) / UTC+2 (Daylight)
Paris, Berlin, Rome
JST (Japan Standard)
UTC+9 (No DST)
Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul
AEST/AEDT (Australian Eastern)
UTC+10 (Standard) / UTC+11 (Daylight)
Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane
Daylight Saving Time
Many regions observe Daylight Saving Time (DST), shifting clocks forward by one hour during warmer months. This affects the UTC offset and can complicate international scheduling.
Tips for Remote Teams
- Always specify the time zone when scheduling meetings
- Use UTC for technical logs and databases
- Consider using tools like TimeFlip for quick conversions
- Be aware of DST changes in March and November
- Use calendar apps that automatically adjust for attendees' time zones