Does it account for Daylight Saving Time?

Yes, our converter uses the IANA timezone database, which includes all current DST rules for every timezone in the world.

UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) is the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks. All timezones are defined as offsets from UTC.

Can I compare multiple timezones at once?

Yes, you can add multiple cities or timezones and see the equivalent times side by side.

How many timezones are there in the world?

There are 38 distinct UTC offsets in use, ranging from UTC-12 to UTC+14. This includes half-hour (UTC+5:30 India, UTC+9:30 Australia) and 45-minute offsets (UTC+5:45 Nepal, UTC+8:45 Australia).

What is the International Date Line?

The International Date Line (IDL) runs roughly along the 180° meridian in the Pacific Ocean. When you cross it westward, you gain a day; crossing eastward, you lose a day.

Why do some timezones have 30 or 45 minute offsets?

Countries chose offsets that best matched their solar noon. India uses UTC+5:30 and Nepal uses UTC+5:45 because standard hourly offsets didn't align well with their geography.

Which country has the most timezones?

France has the most (12 timezones) due to overseas territories. Russia spans 11 timezones. The US has 6 (including Hawaii and Alaska).

WAT to EDT

-5h

WAT

WATSOURCE

UTC+01:00

HH12

MM00

12:00 (24-hr)

12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM12 AM

EDT

UTC-04:00☀ DST active

HH07

MM00

07:00 (24-hr)

12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM12 AM

Quick Reference

Time Conversion Table

WAT

EDT

12:00 AM

7:00 PM-1

2:00 AM

9:00 PM-1

4:00 AM

11:00 PM-1

6:00 AM

1:00 AM

8:00 AM

3:00 AM

10:00 AM

5:00 AM

12:00 PM

7:00 AM

2:00 PM

9:00 AM

4:00 PM

11:00 AM

6:00 PM

1:00 PM

8:00 PM

3:00 PM

10:00 PM

5:00 PM

Green rows indicate typical business hours (9 AM - 5 PM)

WAT and EDT on the World Map

The map below highlights the WAT (West Africa Time) and EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) timezone regions across the globe.

WAT Zone

→

EDT Zone

Explore all world timezones interactively →

WAT – West Africa Time

UTC+01:00

West Africa Time (WAT) is the time zone for West and Central Africa, 1 hour ahead of UTC.

Countries in WAT

NigeriaCameroonChadCongoAngolaNigerGabonEquatorial Guinea

Major Cities in WAT

LagosAbujaDoualaYaoundéLuandaKinshasaBrazzaville

Key Facts about WAT

•Lagos, Nigeria is the most populous city in Africa.
•WAT is the same offset as CET (UTC+01:00).
•Nigeria does not observe daylight saving time.

Daylight Saving:No – UTC+01:00 year-round

Learn more about WAT on Wikipedia

EDT – Eastern Daylight Time

UTC-04:00

Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) is the daylight saving time observed in the Eastern Time Zone, 4 hours behind UTC.

Countries in EDT

United States (Eastern)Canada (Ontario, Quebec)BahamasHaitiTurks and Caicos

Major Cities in EDT

New York CityWashington D.C.TorontoMiamiPhiladelphiaAtlantaBostonMontreal

Key Facts about EDT

•EDT is observed from the second Sunday of March to the first Sunday of November.
•During EDT, the US East Coast is only 4 hours behind London (instead of 5).
•Not all EST locations switch to EDT – Panama and Jamaica stay on EST year-round.

Daylight Saving:Yes – switches to EST

Learn more about EDT on Wikipedia

Comparing Time Zones: WAT and EDT

WAT runs on West Africa Time (WAT) at UTC+01:00. EDT runs on Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) at UTC-04:00. That puts WAT 5 hours behind EDT — a difference of -5h at the current offsets.

In practice, when it is 9:00 AM in WAT it is 4:00 AM in EDT. Midnight in WAT is 7:00 PM in EDT. Neither zone observes daylight saving time, so the offset between them stays constant all year.

WAT to EDT time conversion table

WAT (WAT)	EDT (EDT)	Day
12:00 AM	7:00 PM	previous day
6:00 AM	1:00 AM	same day
7:00 AM	2:00 AM	same day
8:00 AM	3:00 AM	same day
9:00 AM	4:00 AM	same day
12:00 PM	7:00 AM	same day
3:00 PM	10:00 AM	same day
5:00 PM	12:00 PM	same day
6:00 PM	1:00 PM	same day
9:00 PM	4:00 PM	same day

Why people convert WAT to EDT time

Scheduling a call from WAT to EDT: a 10:00 AM start in WAT lands at 5:00 AM in EDT, so you can confirm the slot without doing the arithmetic yourself.
Finding shared working hours: both WAT and EDT are inside the 9-to-5 working day between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM WAT time (9:00 AM–12:00 PM EDT). That is roughly 3 hours of usable overlap.
Watching a live event or market open: WAT viewers need 4:00 AM in EDT to catch a 9:00 AM start there, and 5:00 AM if the event is anchored to WAT.

Always state the zone abbreviation, not just the hour. "3:00 PM WAT" is unambiguous; "3 PM" across a -5h gap is not.
Block 2:00 PM–5:00 PM WAT as the recurring meeting window if you work primarily from WAT and need EDT colleagues present.

About WAT (West Africa Time)

West Africa Time (WAT) is used across much of West and Central Africa, including Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa. WAT does not observe daylight saving time and shares the same offset as Central European Time (CET).

About EDT (Eastern Daylight Time)

Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) is used during the summer months (second Sunday of March to the first Sunday of November) in the Eastern Time Zone. During EDT, clocks are advanced by one hour to take advantage of longer daylight hours. Not all locations in the Eastern Time Zone observe DST – Panama, Jamaica, and most of the Caribbean remain on EST year-round.

Best time to call between WAT and EDT

Both WAT and EDT sit inside the 9 AM – 5 PM working day between 2:00 PM–5:00 PM WAT, which is 9:00 AM–12:00 PM EDT. That gives roughly 3 hours of shared time — the safest window for a live call or meeting.

Business hours overlap

WAT and EDT overlap for about 3 hours during the working day — enough for meetings if you avoid the edges of the window.

WAT is 5 hours behind EDT (WAT UTC+01:00 → EDT UTC-04:00). The shared working window is 2:00 PM–5:00 PM WAT. Remember to re-check around daylight-saving transitions.

🕐 Daylight Saving Time Info

WAT

Does not observe DST

EDT

☀ Currently in DST

Standard: UTC-05:00 · DST: UTC-04:00

Clocks fall back on Sun, Nov 1, 2026

Learn More About Time

Dive deeper into the fascinating world of timekeeping, time zones, and how they shape our global society:

⏳

History of Timekeeping

From sundials to atomic clocks - 5000 years of measuring time

🌍

How Time Zones Work

UTC, offsets, and why zones don't follow straight lines

☀️

Daylight Saving Time

DST dates, which countries observe it, and the ongoing debate

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the time difference between WAT and EDT?

WAT (WAT, UTC+01:00) is 5 hours behind EDT (EDT, UTC-04:00). The gap is currently -5h.

How do I convert WAT time to EDT time?

Add -5h to WAT local time. For example, 9:00 AM in WAT is 4:00 AM in EDT.

What time is it in EDT right now?

EDT uses EDT at UTC-04:00. Use the live converter at the top of this page — it updates in real time and already accounts for the -5h offset from WAT.

What is the best time to call EDT from WAT?

Call between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM WAT — that maps to 9:00 AM–12:00 PM EDT and keeps both parties inside the working day.

Which is behind, WAT or EDT?

WAT is 5 hours behind EDT. When it is 12:00 PM in WAT it is 7:00 AM in EDT.

Does daylight saving time affect the WAT–EDT difference?

Neither zone observes daylight saving time, so the -5h offset between WAT and EDT is fixed all year.

Which other cities share WAT's time zone?

WAT also covers Lagos, Abuja, Douala, Yaoundé, Luanda, Kinshasa, Brazzaville.

Which countries use WAT, WAT's zone?

WAT is used in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Congo, Angola, Niger, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea.

Is there a day difference between WAT and EDT?

Not normally. The -5h gap only pushes the date over the previous day.

What is the time difference between WAT and EDT?

EDT is -5h from WAT.

What timezone is WAT in?

WAT operates on its local timezone.

What timezone is EDT in?

EDT operates on its local timezone.

Which countries use WAT (West Africa Time)?

WAT is used in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Congo, Angola, Niger, and 2 more countries.

Does WAT observe daylight saving time?

No, WAT does not observe daylight saving time and remains at UTC+01:00 year-round.

What are some interesting facts about WAT?

Lagos, Nigeria is the most populous city in Africa. WAT is the same offset as CET (UTC+01:00).

Which cities are in the EDT timezone?

Major cities in the EDT timezone include New York City, Washington D.C., Toronto, Miami, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Boston, Montreal.

What is the UTC offset for EDT?

Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) is at UTC-04:00. During daylight saving time, it shifts to EST.

What should I know about the EDT timezone?

EDT is observed from the second Sunday of March to the first Sunday of November. During EDT, the US East Coast is only 4 hours behind London (instead of 5).