EST to AKST
-4hEST
ESTSOURCEAKST
AKSTGreen rows indicate typical business hours (9 AM - 5 PM)
EST and AKST on the World Map
The map below highlights the EST (Eastern Standard Time) and AKST (Alaska Standard Time) timezone regions across the globe.
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.
AKST – Alaska Standard Time
UTC-09:00Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is the time zone for the state of Alaska, 9 hours behind UTC.
- •Alaska is the largest US state by area but has only about 730,000 residents.
- •Anchorage is the most populous city in AKST with about 290,000 people.
- •The Aleutian Islands use HAST instead of AKST.
Everything You Need to Know About EST and AKST Time
EST runs on Eastern Standard Time (EST) at UTC-05:00. AKST runs on Alaska Standard Time (AKST) at UTC-09:00. That puts EST 4 hours behind AKST — a difference of -4h at the current offsets.
In practice, when it is 9:00 AM in EST it is 5:00 AM in AKST. Midnight in EST is 8:00 PM in AKST. Neither zone observes daylight saving time, so the offset between them stays constant all year.
EST to AKST time conversion table
| EST (EST) | AKST (AKST) | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 AM | 8:00 PM | previous day |
| 6:00 AM | 2:00 AM | same day |
| 7:00 AM | 3:00 AM | same day |
| 8:00 AM | 4:00 AM | same day |
| 9:00 AM | 5:00 AM | same day |
| 12:00 PM | 8:00 AM | same day |
| 3:00 PM | 11:00 AM | same day |
| 5:00 PM | 1:00 PM | same day |
| 6:00 PM | 2:00 PM | same day |
| 9:00 PM | 5:00 PM | same day |
Why people convert EST to AKST time
- Scheduling a call from EST to AKST: a 10:00 AM start in EST lands at 6:00 AM in AKST, so you can confirm the slot without doing the arithmetic yourself.
- Finding shared working hours: both EST and AKST are inside the 9-to-5 working day between 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM EST time (9:00 AM–1:00 PM AKST). That is roughly 4 hours of usable overlap.
- Keeping family and friends in sync: knowing that 8:00 PM in EST is 4:00 PM in AKST makes it easy to avoid calling at 3 AM.
- Always state the zone abbreviation, not just the hour. "3:00 PM EST" is unambiguous; "3 PM" across a -4h gap is not.
- Block 1:00 PM–5:00 PM EST as the recurring meeting window if you work primarily from EST and need AKST colleagues present.
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.
About AKST (Alaska Standard Time)
Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is used in nearly all of Alaska. Due to Alaska's vast geographic size, the Aleutian Islands use Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time instead. During summer months, Alaska switches to Alaska Daylight Time (AKDT, UTC-08:00).
Best time to call between EST and AKST
Both EST and AKST sit inside the 9 AM – 5 PM working day between 1:00 PM–5:00 PM EST, which is 9:00 AM–1:00 PM AKST. That gives roughly 4 hours of shared time — the safest window for a live call or meeting.
Business hours overlap
EST and AKST overlap for about 4 hours during the working day — enough for meetings if you avoid the edges of the window.
EST is 4 hours behind AKST (EST UTC-05:00 → AKST UTC-09:00). The shared working window is 1:00 PM–5:00 PM EST. Remember to re-check around daylight-saving transitions.
🕐 Daylight Saving Time Info
EST
☀ Currently in DST
Standard: UTC-05:00 · DST: UTC-04:00
Clocks fall back on Sun, Nov 1, 2026
AKST
☀ Currently in DST
Standard: UTC-09:00 · DST: UTC-08:00
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 EST and AKST?
EST (EST, UTC-05:00) is 4 hours behind AKST (AKST, UTC-09:00). The gap is currently -4h.
How do I convert EST time to AKST time?
Add -4h to EST local time. For example, 9:00 AM in EST is 5:00 AM in AKST.
What time is it in AKST right now?
AKST uses AKST at UTC-09:00. Use the live converter at the top of this page — it updates in real time and already accounts for the -4h offset from EST.
What is the best time to call AKST from EST?
Call between 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM EST — that maps to 9:00 AM–1:00 PM AKST and keeps both parties inside the working day.
Which is behind, EST or AKST?
EST is 4 hours behind AKST. When it is 12:00 PM in EST it is 8:00 AM in AKST.
Does daylight saving time affect the EST–AKST difference?
Neither zone observes daylight saving time, so the -4h offset between EST and AKST is fixed all year.
Which other cities share EST's time zone?
EST also covers New York City, Washington D.C., Miami, Toronto, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Boston, Montreal and 8 more.
Which countries use EST, EST's zone?
EST is used in United States (Eastern), Canada (Ontario, Quebec), Mexico (Quintana Roo), Panama, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Haiti, Bahamas and 4 more.
Is there a day difference between EST and AKST?
Not normally. The -4h gap only pushes the date over the previous day.
What is the time difference between EST and AKST?
AKST is -4h from EST.
What timezone is EST in?
EST operates on its local timezone.
What timezone is AKST in?
AKST operates on its local timezone.
Which countries use EST (Eastern Standard Time)?
EST is used in United States (Eastern), Canada (Ontario, Quebec), Mexico (Quintana Roo), Panama, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, and 6 more countries.
Does EST observe daylight saving time?
Yes, EST switches to EDT during summer months.
What are some interesting facts about EST?
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.
Which cities are in the AKST timezone?
Major cities in the AKST timezone include Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Sitka, Wasilla.
What is the UTC offset for AKST?
Alaska Standard Time (AKST) is at UTC-09:00. During daylight saving time, it shifts to AKDT.
What should I know about the AKST timezone?
Alaska is the largest US state by area but has only about 730,000 residents. Anchorage is the most populous city in AKST with about 290,000 people.
When is it midnight in EST, what time is it in AKST?
When it is 12:00 AM (midnight) in EST (EST), it is -4h later in AKST (AKST).
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See every conversion from EST →·See every conversion from AKST →