Time Zones in California, United States (2024)

Time Zone Currently Being Used in California

OffsetTime Zone Abbreviation & NameExample CityCurrent Time
UTC -7PDTPacific Daylight TimeLos AngelesThu, 1:56:43 am

California Is in the Pacific Time Zone

California uses Pacific Standard Time (PST) during standard time and Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) during Daylight Saving Time (DST).

California shares its time zone and DST schedule with bordering states Oregon and Nevada. Meanwhile, most of Arizona, which also shares a border with California, is on Mountain Standard Time (MST) all year.

West Coast Time

“West Coast Time” is often used for Pacific Time (PT) time zone since it covers the entire western coastline, from Washington state in the north to California in the south.

California also shares its time zone and southern border with Baja California in Mexico.

Pacific Time in California

Time Zone Abbreviation & NameOffsetCurrent Time
PTPacific TimeUTC -8:00 / -7:00Thu, 1:56:43 am

Note: Local time in these time zones changes when Daylight Saving Time begins and ends.

Time Zone Not Currently Being Observed in California

OffsetTime Zone Abbreviation & NameCommences
UTC -8PSTPacific Standard TimeNov 3, 2024

The above time zone is used during other parts of the year. It will become active again after the next clock change as Daylight Saving Time begins or ends.

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Time Zones in California, United States (2024)

FAQs

How many time zones are in California? ›

California Is in the Pacific Time Zone

California uses Pacific Standard Time (PST) during standard time and Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) during Daylight Saving Time (DST). California shares its time zone and DST schedule with bordering states Oregon and Nevada.

Is California currently in PDT or PST? ›

Time Zone in Los Angeles, California, USA
Current:PDT — Pacific Daylight Time
Next Change:PST — Pacific Standard Time
Current Offset:UTC/GMT -7 hours
Difference:2 hours behind Wichita

What time would it be in California right now? ›

Current Local Time in Locations in California with Links for More Information (171 Locations)
Los Angeles *Tue 1:07 am
Manteca *Tue 1:07 am
Marysville *Tue 1:07 am
Mission Viejo *Tue 1:07 am
167 more rows

Do all cities in California have the same time zone? ›

These distances mean that even though California is one time zone, it's not really the same time wherever you are in California.

What state has 3 time zones? ›

None of the 50 US states have three time zones. However, there are some states with two time zones. These are: Alaska (Alaska and Hawaii-Aleutian)

What zones are in California? ›

California, otherwise known as 'The Golden State,' offers plenty of sunshine and warm temperatures throughout most of the year. The state is divided into seven growing zones (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) with average minimum temperatures ranging from -20° to 45° F (-28.9° and 7.2° C) depending on the region.

What is the difference between PST and PDT? ›

PST and PDT are one hour apart. It's not possible to change the time zone of a serving account. The time zone is set at the time of account creation. However, for manager accounts (MCCs), it's possible to change the time zone once in an account's lifetime and only eastward.

Is Los Angeles using PST? ›

The largest city in the Pacific Time Zone is Los Angeles, whose metropolitan area is also the largest in the time zone.

Who follows Pacific Time? ›

PST covers the United States, Canada, and Mexico but not in their entirety. In the United States, the Washington and California states are entirely in Pacific Standard Time. Most of the Oregon and Nevada states are also in PST, while just portions of Idaho are included in this time zone.

What time zone is behind California? ›

California is typically in the Pacific Time Zone (PT), which is 3 hours behind the Eastern Time Zone (ET). So, if you're looking for a time zone that is 3 hours behind California, you would be referring to the Central Time Zone (CT), which is 2 hours ahead of the Pacific Time Zone.

What states have the same time as California? ›

In UTC-8: Pacific Standard Time (PST). It covers the western region of the country: California, Washington, part of Nevada, Oregon, and Idaho. This time zone also covers part of Mexico and Canada. It belongs to one of the four time zones in the contiguous United States.

Where is California time change? ›

California still follows daylight saving time, so right now it is in PDT. The entire state is always in the Pacific time zone, or PT.

Does California and Arizona ever have the same time zone? ›

If you're in Los Angeles, Phoenix is in the same time zone most of the year (spring and summer) but an hour ahead in the winter. Here's a breakdown of how to determine what time it is in Phoenix.

Why does LA have two time zones? ›

Multiple time zones fit our geography. While Californians think of our state as running on a north-south axis, look at a map and you'll see the state tilts west and east. San Francisco is more than five degrees' longitude west of San Diego.

What is the state of California famous for? ›

With sun, sand, surf, and mountains, the West Coast state of California is known for its many attractions that lure travelers year-round. From famous landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge and the Hollywood sign, to the Golden State's rich outdoor opportunities, this eclectic state makes for a well-rounded vacation.

What states have a 3 hour time difference from California? ›

States Three Hours Ahead of California
  • New York. Time Zone Difference: New York operates in the Eastern Time Zone, which is three hours ahead of California's Pacific Time. ...
  • Florida. Time Zone Difference: Like New York, Florida is in the Eastern Time Zone, three hours ahead of California. ...
  • Georgia.
Jan 10, 2024

Are there 24 or 40 time zones? ›

Other nations, such as Nepal, use quarter-hour deviations. This means that there are approximately 40 time zones rather than 24.

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