Time zone
EST / EDT — the standard and daylight abbreviations for Washington, D.C..
Current local time
Current Time in Washington, D.C.
See the current time in Washington, D.C. in Eastern Time, with daylight saving dates, UTC offset, and conversions for the US capital region.
02:13:14
Saturday, June 20, 2026
Eastern Daylight Time — UTC-4
Washington, D.C. time zone at a glance
The key facts for Washington, D.C., United States, and how its clock relates to UTC.
About time in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C. keeps Eastern Time, placing the US capital on the same clock as New York, Boston, and Atlanta. The city uses Eastern Standard Time (UTC-5) through the winter and shifts to Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4) from mid-March until early November. Because federal agencies, Congress, and embassies all run on this schedule, official Washington business hours set the rhythm for much of national politics. When it is 9 a.m. in D.C., government offices open just as the East Coast markets begin trading.
Washington, D.C. changes its clocks for daylight saving time, so its exact UTC offset depends on the season (UTC-5 (UTC-4 in summer)). The live clock above reads Washington, D.C.'s local time directly from the IANA time zone database in your browser, so it stays accurate through daylight-saving transitions without any manual adjustment. To plan a call or convert a specific moment, use the timezone converter or meeting planner linked below.
Frequently asked questions about Washington, D.C. time
What time zone is Washington, D.C. in?
Washington, D.C. is in the Eastern Time Zone, using UTC-5 in standard time and UTC-4 during daylight saving time.
Is Washington, D.C. the same time as New York?
Yes. Washington, D.C. and New York both follow Eastern Time, so their clocks match throughout the year.
When does Washington, D.C. change its clocks?
Clocks spring forward on the second Sunday in March and fall back on the first Sunday in November, the standard US schedule.
Current time in other cities
Compare Washington, D.C. with other major world clocks.
New York Current local time in New York, United States (UTC-5 (UTC-4 in summer)). Los Angeles Current local time in Los Angeles, United States (UTC-8 (UTC-7 in summer)). Chicago Current local time in Chicago, United States (UTC-6 (UTC-5 in summer)). Houston Current local time in Houston, United States (UTC-6 (UTC-5 in summer)). Phoenix Current local time in Phoenix, United States (UTC-7 (no DST)). Denver Current local time in Denver, United States (UTC-7 (UTC-6 in summer)).
Time tools for Washington, D.C.
Learn about time zones
Background guides that explain how Washington, D.C.'s clock relates to the rest of the world.