Alaska Daylight Time (AKDT)

More Date/Time Tools

Check Time around the world

Check Time by time-zone

Check Future/Past dates

What is Alaska Daylight Time (AKDT)?
Which Regions of Alaska Observe AKDT?
Understanding the UTC Offset of AKDT
The Shift from AKST to AKDT
Daylight Saving Time Schedule (Approximate)
Benefits of Daylight Saving Time in Alaska
Impact of AKDT on Daily Life in Alaska
Interesting Facts About Alaska Daylight Time
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About AKDT
Related Time Zones in the USA
Helpful Tools on Our Site

What is Alaska Daylight Time (AKDT)?

Alaska Daylight Time (AKDT) is the daylight saving time observed in most of Alaska during the spring and summer months. It has a UTC offset of UTC-08:00, meaning it is eight hours behind Coordinated Universal Time.

AKDT is one hour ahead of Alaska Standard Time (AKST), which is observed during the fall and winter.

Which Regions of Alaska Observe AKDT?

The majority of the state of Alaska observes Alaska Daylight Time during the daylight saving period. This includes:

Southcentral Alaska (e.g., Anchorage)
Interior Alaska (e.g., Fairbanks)
Southeast Alaska (e.g., Juneau)
Much of the Aleutian Islands (east of 169°30' W longitude)

Understanding the UTC Offset of AKDT

The UTC-08:00 offset for AKDT indicates that when this time zone is in effect, the local time is always eight hours behind Coordinated Universal Time. This occurs from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.

The Shift from AKST to AKDT

To maximize daylight during the longer days of spring and summer, most areas observing Alaska Standard Time (AKST) switch to Alaska Daylight Time (AKDT). This involves advancing their clocks by one hour.

Daylight Saving Time Schedule (Approximate)

Event	Date (Approximate)	Time Change
Start of AKDT	Second Sunday in March	Clocks move forward 1 hour (from AKST to AKDT)
End of AKDT (Return to AKST)	First Sunday in November	Clocks move backward 1 hour (from AKDT to AKST)

Benefits of Daylight Saving Time in Alaska

The implementation of AKDT aims to provide several benefits, particularly given Alaska's high latitude:

Extended Evening Daylight: Allowing more daylight hours during people's leisure time after work or school, especially important during the short summer nights.
Energy Savings: Potentially reducing electricity consumption by shifting demand to daylight hours.
Increased Outdoor Activities: More daylight in the evening encourages outdoor activities and tourism, which are significant in Alaska during the summer.

Impact of AKDT on Daily Life in Alaska

Alaska Daylight Time governs the daily schedules and business operations during the spring and summer months in most of Alaska. The one-hour shift affects everything from work hours to sunrise and sunset times, providing more usable daylight during the warmer months. Use our Time Zone Converter to manage these time differences with other zones.

Interesting Facts About Alaska Daylight Time

Summer Time for Most of Alaska: AKDT is observed during the warmer months to take advantage of longer daylight hours.
One Hour Ahead of AKST: AKDT is simply Alaska Standard Time shifted forward by one hour.
Significant Daylight Extension: Due to Alaska's latitude, the shift to AKDT results in a noticeable extension of daylight hours into the evening.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About AKDT

What is the UTC offset for Alaska Daylight Time (AKDT)?

The UTC offset for AKDT is UTC-08:00.

Which months is most of Alaska on AKDT?

Most of Alaska is typically on AKDT from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.

What is the time difference between AKDT and GMT?

Alaska Daylight Time (AKDT) is eight hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

How does AKDT relate to Alaska Standard Time (AKST)?

AKDT is one hour ahead of AKST. When daylight saving ends, clocks are moved back from AKDT to AKST in most of Alaska.

Do all parts of Alaska observe AKDT?

No, the westernmost part of the Aleutian Islands observes Hawaii-Aleutian Daylight Time (HADT), which follows a different schedule (or no daylight saving at all in HST).