Standard time applies in Columbus right now, at UTC−5. The next change comes on Sunday, March 14, 2027, when clocks move to UTC−4.
Columbus and your time
Columbus at a glance
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Region | Ohio |
| Time zone | America/New_York |
| Abbreviation now | EST |
| UTC offset now | UTC−5 |
| Daylight saving time | Starts Mar 14, 2027 |
| Next clock change | Sunday, March 14, 2027 |
| Coordinates | 39.96° N, 83.00° W |
Which time zone Columbus uses
Columbus follows the America/New_York time zone. Standard time began on Sunday, November 1, 2026. Once the clocks go forward at 2:00 AM, daylight saving time (UTC−4 (EDT)) lasts until Sunday, November 7, 2027.
The United States spans 6 offsets. Columbus shares its time with the capital, Washington D.C.
Clock changes in Columbus, 2026 and 2027
| Date | Change | New offset |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday, March 8, 2026 | Clocks go forward 1 hour: 2:00 AM becomes 3:00 AM | UTC−4 |
| Sunday, November 1, 2026 | Clocks go back 1 hour: 2:00 AM becomes 1:00 AM | UTC−5 |
| Sunday, March 14, 2027 | Clocks go forward 1 hour: 2:00 AM becomes 3:00 AM | UTC−4 |
| Sunday, November 7, 2027 | Clocks go back 1 hour: 2:00 AM becomes 1:00 AM | UTC−5 |
Columbus time compared with major cities
Take 9:00 AM in Columbus: the clock reads 2:00 PM in London, 1:00 AM (next day) in Sydney and 6:00 AM in Los Angeles.
| City | Time now | Difference now | In January | In July | Shared office hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | --:-- | 3 h behind | 3 h behind | 3 h behind | 5 h |
| London (United Kingdom) | --:-- | 5 h ahead | 5 h ahead | 5 h ahead | 3 h |
| Paris (France) | --:-- | 6 h ahead | 6 h ahead | 6 h ahead | 2 h |
| Dubai (United Arab Emirates) | --:-- | 9 h ahead | 9 h ahead | 8 h ahead | None |
| Mumbai (India) | --:-- | 10 h 30 min ahead | 10 h 30 min ahead | 9 h 30 min ahead | None |
| Singapore | --:-- | 13 h ahead | 13 h ahead | 12 h ahead | None |
| Tokyo (Japan) | --:-- | 14 h ahead | 14 h ahead | 13 h ahead | None |
| Sydney (Australia) | --:-- | 16 h ahead | 16 h ahead | 14 h ahead | None |
| UTC | --:-- | 5 h ahead | 5 h ahead | 4 h ahead | 3 h |
Some gaps change during the year because Columbus and the other city change clocks on different dates, or only one of them changes at all. The January and July columns show both versions.
Shared office hours counts the time when the clock reads between 9 AM and 5 PM in both cities on the same day.
Sunrise, sunset and day length in Columbus
Today
| Sunrise | --:-- |
|---|---|
| Sunset | --:-- |
| Day length | -- |
| Solar noon | --:-- |
Day length in Columbus runs from 9 hours 20 minutes at the December solstice to 15 hours 1 minute at the June solstice. The latest sunset, at 9:05 PM, comes on June 27.
Daylight through the year in Columbus
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | March 20 | 7:35 AM | 7:44 PM | 12 h 9 min |
| June solstice | June 21 | 6:03 AM | 9:04 PM | 15 h 1 min |
| September equinox | September 22 | 7:20 AM | 7:29 PM | 12 h 9 min |
| December solstice | December 21 | 7:50 AM | 5:10 PM | 9 h 20 min |
Sunrise and sunset jump by 1 hour on the days the clocks change, even though the daylight itself changes only by a minute or two.
Clock time and sun time in Columbus
Clock time and sun time line up fairly well in Columbus: solar noon falls at about 12:30 PM on standard time and 1:30 PM during daylight saving time.
Places close to Columbus
All the places listed below keep the same time as Columbus.
| City | Distance | Time now | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dayton | 104 km (65 mi) | --:-- | Same time |
| Cincinnati | 160 km (99 mi) | --:-- | Same time |
| Meads | 174 km (108 mi) | --:-- | Same time |
| Akron | 177 km (110 mi) | --:-- | Same time |
| Toledo | 195 km (121 mi) | --:-- | Same time |
| Cleveland | 203 km (126 mi) | --:-- | Same time |
| Fort Wayne | 222 km (138 mi) | --:-- | Same time |
| Lexington | 254 km (158 mi) | --:-- | Same time |
Other cities on America/New_York time
Same clock, same changes: these cities use America/New_York just like Columbus.
Same time now, different rules
These places read the same time as Columbus today but follow different rules, so they can drift apart when clocks change.
More cities in United States
- New York
- Los Angeles
- Chicago
- Houston
- Phoenix
- Philadelphia
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- The Bronx
- Dallas
- Jacksonville
- Fort Worth
All time zones and cities in the United States
Tools for time in Columbus
- Convert a time to or from Columbus: pick a date and time and see it in every city on your list.
- Add Columbus to your world clock to keep it next to your own time.
- Find a meeting time that falls inside office hours in Columbus and the other cities you work with.
- Open a full-screen clock for your own time zone.
Frequently asked questions
What time zone is Columbus in?
Columbus uses the America/New_York time zone: UTC−5 (EST) in standard time and UTC−4 (EDT) during daylight saving time.
When do the clocks change in Columbus?
The next change is on Sunday, March 14, 2027 at 2:00 AM, when clocks go forward 1 hour to UTC−4. They go back again on Sunday, November 7, 2027.
What is the time difference between Columbus and London?
Columbus is 5 hours behind London for most of the year. From March 14 to March 27 and October 30 to November 7, the gap is 4 hours, because Columbus and London change their clocks on different dates.
Is Columbus on the same time as Washington D.C.?
Yes. Columbus and Washington D.C. both use UTC−5 right now.
How long is the longest day in Columbus?
About 15 hours 1 minute, around the June solstice. The shortest day, around the December solstice, has about 9 hours 20 minutes of daylight.
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.