AST to EST
-1hAST
ASTSOURCEEST
ESTGreen rows indicate typical business hours (9 AM - 5 PM)
AST and EST on the World Map
The map below highlights the AST (Atlantic Standard Time) and EST (Eastern Standard Time) timezone regions across the globe.
AST – Atlantic Standard Time
UTC-04:00Atlantic Standard Time (AST) is the time zone for the Canadian Atlantic provinces and the Caribbean, 4 hours behind UTC.
- •Puerto Rico uses AST year-round and does not observe DST.
- •AST is 1 hour ahead of EST.
- •Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia, is the largest city in AST Canada.
EST – Eastern Standard Time
UTC-05:00Eastern Standard Time (EST) is the time zone for the eastern United States and Canada, 5 hours behind UTC.
- •EST is the most widely used time zone in the United States by population.
- •The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ operate on Eastern Time, opening at 9:30 AM EST.
- •23 US states are fully or partially in the Eastern Time Zone.
- •EST was established by the Standard Time Act of 1918.
- •Over 47% of the US population lives in the Eastern Time Zone.
AST vs EST: Offsets, DST and Best Call Times
AST runs on Atlantic Standard Time (AST) at UTC-04:00. EST runs on Eastern Standard Time (EST) at UTC-05:00. That puts AST 1 hour behind EST — a difference of -1h at the current offsets.
In practice, when it is 9:00 AM in AST it is 8:00 AM in EST. Midnight in AST is 11:00 PM in EST. Neither zone observes daylight saving time, so the offset between them stays constant all year.
AST to EST time conversion table
| AST (AST) | EST (EST) | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 AM | 11:00 PM | previous day |
| 6:00 AM | 5:00 AM | same day |
| 7:00 AM | 6:00 AM | same day |
| 8:00 AM | 7:00 AM | same day |
| 9:00 AM | 8:00 AM | same day |
| 12:00 PM | 11:00 AM | same day |
| 3:00 PM | 2:00 PM | same day |
| 5:00 PM | 4:00 PM | same day |
| 6:00 PM | 5:00 PM | same day |
| 9:00 PM | 8:00 PM | same day |
Why people convert AST to EST time
- Scheduling a call from AST to EST: a 10:00 AM start in AST lands at 9:00 AM in EST, so you can confirm the slot without doing the arithmetic yourself.
- Finding shared working hours: both AST and EST are inside the 9-to-5 working day between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM AST time (9:00 AM–4:00 PM EST). That is roughly 7 hours of usable overlap.
- Watching a live event or market open: AST viewers need 8:00 AM in EST to catch a 9:00 AM start there, and 1:00 AM if the event is anchored to AST.
- Always state the zone abbreviation, not just the hour. "3:00 PM AST" is unambiguous; "3 PM" across a -1h gap is not.
- Block 10:00 AM–5:00 PM AST as the recurring meeting window if you work primarily from AST and need EST colleagues present.
About AST (Atlantic Standard Time)
Atlantic Standard Time (AST) covers Canada's Atlantic provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and most of Labrador), as well as several Caribbean nations. Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands use AST year-round without daylight saving time. The Canadian provinces switch to Atlantic Daylight Time (ADT) in summer.
About EST (Eastern Standard Time)
Eastern Standard Time (EST) is observed during the winter months in the eastern part of North America. It covers 23 US states and parts of Canada including Ontario and Quebec. EST is the most populous time zone in the United States, home to major financial centers like New York City and global organizations headquartered in Washington D.C. During daylight saving time (March–November), clocks shift to Eastern Daylight Time (EDT, UTC-04:00). The time zone also covers parts of the Caribbean and Central America including Panama, Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands.
Best time to call between AST and EST
Both AST and EST sit inside the 9 AM – 5 PM working day between 10:00 AM–5:00 PM AST, which is 9:00 AM–4:00 PM EST. That gives roughly 7 hours of shared time — the safest window for a live call or meeting.
Business hours overlap
AST and EST share 7 hours of working-hours overlap (10:00 AM–5:00 PM AST), so scheduling a live meeting is straightforward.
AST is 1 hour behind EST (AST UTC-04:00 → EST UTC-05:00). The shared working window is 10:00 AM–5:00 PM AST. Remember to re-check around daylight-saving transitions.
🕐 Daylight Saving Time Info
AST
☀ Currently in DST
Standard: UTC-04:00 · DST: UTC-03:00
Clocks fall back on Sun, Nov 1, 2026
EST
☀ 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:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between AST and EST?
AST (AST, UTC-04:00) is 1 hour behind EST (EST, UTC-05:00). The gap is currently -1h.
How do I convert AST time to EST time?
Add -1h to AST local time. For example, 9:00 AM in AST is 8:00 AM in EST.
What time is it in EST right now?
EST uses EST at UTC-05:00. Use the live converter at the top of this page — it updates in real time and already accounts for the -1h offset from AST.
What is the best time to call EST from AST?
Call between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM AST — that maps to 9:00 AM–4:00 PM EST and keeps both parties inside the working day.
Which is behind, AST or EST?
AST is 1 hour behind EST. When it is 12:00 PM in AST it is 11:00 AM in EST.
Does daylight saving time affect the AST–EST difference?
Neither zone observes daylight saving time, so the -1h offset between AST and EST is fixed all year.
Which other cities share AST's time zone?
AST also covers Halifax, San Juan, Santo Domingo, Caracas, La Paz, Fredericton, Charlottetown.
Which countries use AST, AST's zone?
AST is used in Canada (Atlantic provinces), Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Bolivia, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago.
Is there a day difference between AST and EST?
Not normally. The -1h gap only pushes the date over the previous day.
What is the time difference between AST and EST?
EST is -1h from AST.
What timezone is AST in?
AST operates on its local timezone.
What timezone is EST in?
EST operates on its local timezone.
Which countries use AST (Atlantic Standard Time)?
AST is used in Canada (Atlantic provinces), Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Bolivia, and 2 more countries.
Does AST observe daylight saving time?
Yes, AST switches to ADT during summer months.
What are some interesting facts about AST?
Puerto Rico uses AST year-round and does not observe DST. AST is 1 hour ahead of EST.
Which cities are in the EST timezone?
Major cities in the EST timezone include New York City, Washington D.C., Miami, Toronto, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Boston, Montreal.
What is the UTC offset for EST?
Eastern Standard Time (EST) is at UTC-05:00. During daylight saving time, it shifts to EDT.
What should I know about the EST timezone?
EST is the most widely used time zone in the United States by population. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ operate on Eastern Time, opening at 9:30 AM EST.
When is it midnight in AST, what time is it in EST?
When it is 12:00 AM (midnight) in AST (AST), it is -1h later in EST (EST).
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See every conversion from AST →·See every conversion from EST →