EST to UTC converter
UTC is 4 hours ahead of EST for most of the year. The gap is different for part of the year, because only one side changes its clocks: in 2026 that is 1 January to 7 March (5 hours) and 1 November to 31 December (5 hours). If you schedule something in that period, check the date.
EST to UTC conversion table
Every hour of the day in EST and what it is in UTC. The columns use a January date and a July date, so you can see how daylight saving changes the answer.
| Time in EST | UTC in January EST to UTC | UTC in July EDT to UTC |
|---|---|---|
| 12 AM | 5:00 AM | 4:00 AM |
| 1 AM | 6:00 AM | 5:00 AM |
| 2 AM | 7:00 AM | 6:00 AM |
| 3 AM | 8:00 AM | 7:00 AM |
| 4 AM | 9:00 AM | 8:00 AM |
| 5 AM | 10:00 AM | 9:00 AM |
| 6 AM | 11:00 AM | 10:00 AM |
| 7 AM | 12:00 PM | 11:00 AM |
| 8 AM | 1:00 PM | 12:00 PM |
| 9 AM | 2:00 PM | 1:00 PM |
| 10 AM | 3:00 PM | 2:00 PM |
| 11 AM | 4:00 PM | 3:00 PM |
| 12 PM | 5:00 PM | 4:00 PM |
| 1 PM | 6:00 PM | 5:00 PM |
| 2 PM | 7:00 PM | 6:00 PM |
| 3 PM | 8:00 PM | 7:00 PM |
| 4 PM | 9:00 PM | 8:00 PM |
| 5 PM | 10:00 PM | 9:00 PM |
| 6 PM | 11:00 PM | 10:00 PM |
| 7 PM | 12:00 AM next day | 11:00 PM |
| 8 PM | 1:00 AM next day | 12:00 AM next day |
| 9 PM | 2:00 AM next day | 1:00 AM next day |
| 10 PM | 3:00 AM next day | 2:00 AM next day |
| 11 PM | 4:00 AM next day | 3:00 AM next day |
How to convert EST to UTC
To convert EST to UTC by hand, add 4 hours for most of the year, then fix the date if you cross midnight.
- 8 PM EST on 15 January is 1:00 AM UTC the next day.
- 8 PM EDT on 15 July is 12:00 AM UTC the next day.
- On the other side of the year, 8 PM EST on 2 February is 1:00 AM UTC the next day, because the gap is then 5 hours.
- 8 PM EDT on 15 October is 12:00 AM UTC the next day.
UTC is the easy anchor: convert to UTC first, then to the other zone, and you never have to think about which side changed its clocks.
About the two time zones
Eastern Time (EST/EDT). Used in: New York, Toronto, Miami, Atlanta, Boston, Washington DC. Clocks go forward on the second Sunday in March and back on the first Sunday in November.
People write EST all year round, even in summer when the clocks actually say EDT. This tool treats EST, EDT and ET as the same thing: the current time in New York.
Coordinated Universal Time (UTC/GMT). Used in: servers, aviation, space agencies and software release schedules, as the reference every other zone is measured from. No daylight saving: the offset is the same all year.
UTC never changes. GMT is the same time on the clock, but GMT is also the name of the UK's winter time.
Skip the converter: let Herewise do it on every page
Herewise is a free Chrome extension. When a page says "8 PM EST", "75°F" or "$49", it adds a small label with the time, temperature or price in your own time zone, units and currency. Free, no account, nothing you read leaves your browser.
Questions
What is 8 PM EST in UTC?
8 PM EST on 15 January is 1:00 AM UTC the next day. 8 PM EDT on 15 July is 12:00 AM UTC the next day. On the other side of the year, 8 PM EST on 2 February is 1:00 AM UTC the next day, because the gap is then 5 hours.
Is UTC ahead of or behind EST?
UTC is 4 hours ahead of EST for most of the year. The gap is different for part of the year, because only one side changes its clocks: in 2026 that is 1 January to 7 March (5 hours) and 1 November to 31 December (5 hours). If you schedule something in that period, check the date.
Does daylight saving change the difference between EST and UTC?
Yes. Eastern Time: Clocks go forward on the second Sunday in March and back on the first Sunday in November. Coordinated Universal Time: No daylight saving: the offset is the same all year.
How can I see EST times in my own time zone automatically?
Install Herewise, a free Chrome extension. When a web page says a time like 8 PM EST, it adds a small label with that time in your own time zone, using the correct date for daylight saving.