Pacific Standard Time (PST)

• What is Pacific Standard Time (PST)?
• Which US States and Regions Observe PST?
• Understanding the UTC Offset of PST
• Daylight Saving Time and PST: Transition to PDT
• Daylight Saving Time Schedule (Approximate)
• Unique Aspects of Pacific Standard Time
• Impact of PST on Daily Life and Business in the Pacific US
• Interesting Facts About Pacific Standard Time
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About PST
• Related Time Zones in the USA
• Helpful Tools on Our Site

Pacific Standard Time (PST) is the standard time observed in the westernmost states of the United States and parts of Canada and Mexico during the fall and winter months. It has a UTC offset of UTC-08:00, meaning it is eight hours behind Coordinated Universal Time.

PST is the counterpart to Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), which is observed during the spring and summer when daylight saving is in effect.

The following states along the West Coast of the United States observe Pacific Standard Time during the standard time period:

• California
• Oregon (most areas)
• Washington
• Nevada (most areas)
• Idaho (northern part)

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

To make better use of daylight during the warmer months, most areas observing Pacific Standard Time switch to Pacific Daylight Time (PDT). This transition occurs on the second Sunday of March, when clocks are moved forward by one hour to UTC-07:00.

The return to PST happens on the first Sunday of November, when clocks are moved back by one hour.

PST serves as the standard time for the entire contiguous West Coast of the United States, a region known for its influence in technology, entertainment, and international trade. Its UTC-08:00 offset provides a consistent reference during the fall and winter months.

Pacific Standard Time dictates the rhythm of daily life and business during the late fall and winter in the participating states. It is the time zone under which major technology and entertainment industries operate during standard time. Understanding PST is crucial for coordinating schedules and communications across different time zones in the US and internationally, especially with Asia. Our Time Zone Converter can help manage these time differences.

• Winter Time on the West Coast: PST is observed during the colder months when daylight hours are naturally shorter.
• Foundation of PT: PST is the base time from which Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) is derived by adding one hour.
• Global Influence: Activities in the PST zone, particularly in technology and entertainment, have a significant global impact.
• Consistent Transition: The switch to and from PST is synchronized across all participating states and regions in the US.

• Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)
• Pacific Time Zone (PT)
• Mountain Standard Time (MST)
• Mountain Daylight Time (MDT)
• Central Standard Time (CST)
• Central Daylight Time (CDT)
• Eastern Standard Time (EST)
• Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)

• What is Today's Date
• What is My Time Zone
• Time Zone Converter