EST is used for 2 different time zones. The table below shows each one with its offset and current time.
What EST can mean
Abbreviations are not standardised, and the same letters can stand for zones hours apart. When a message says EST, check the sender’s country or ask for the city.
| Name | UTC offset | Time now | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Standard Time | UTC−5 | --:-- | America/New_York, America/Toronto, America/Detroit, America/Panama |
| Australian Eastern Standard Time | UTC+10 | --:-- | Australia/Sydney, Australia/Brisbane |
Where and when EST is used
| IANA time zone | Uses EST | Main cities |
|---|---|---|
| America/New_York | Outside daylight saving time | New York, Brooklyn, Queens |
| America/Toronto | Outside daylight saving time | Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa |
| America/Detroit | Outside daylight saving time | Detroit, Grand Rapids, Warren |
| America/Panama | All year | Panama City, San Miguelito, Juan Díaz |
| America/Cancun | All year | Cancún, Chetumal, Playa del Carmen |
| America/Winnipeg | All year | Winnipeg |
| Australia/Sydney | Outside daylight saving time | Sydney, Newcastle, Canberra |
| Australia/Brisbane | All year | Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast |
EST and EDT
EDT is the daylight saving version of EST, 1 hour ahead of it. Writing EST in summer means a time that is 1 hour off for the places that have switched.
Plan around the time in EST
- Convert a time to or from EST: pick a date and time and see it in every city on your list.
- Add New York to your world clock to keep it next to your own time.
- Find a meeting time that falls inside office hours in EST and the other cities you work with.
- Open a full-screen clock for your own time zone.
Frequently asked questions
Is it EST or EDT right now?
EST is in use now in New York, Toronto, Detroit and Panama City. EDT returns on Sunday, March 14, 2027.
Which time zone does EST mean?
It depends on who wrote it. Eastern Standard Time (UTC−5): New York, Toronto, Detroit and Panama City; Australian Eastern Standard Time (UTC+10): Sydney and Brisbane. Ask for a city or a UTC offset if the context does not make it clear.
What time is 12:00 EST in UTC?
12:00 EST is 5:00 PM UTC.
Time zone rules: IANA tz database, version 2026e. Place names and coordinates: GeoNames. Sunrise and sunset are calculated from the coordinates and can differ by a minute or two from local almanacs.