UTC to EST/EDT Converter
Convert UTC to Eastern Time (EST/EDT) instantly. Handles DST transitions automatically. EST is UTC-5, EDT is UTC-4. Free converter for developers.
Built by Michael Lip
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between EST and EDT?
EST (Eastern Standard Time) is UTC-5, used from November to March. EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) is UTC-4, used from March to November. The transition happens on the second Sunday of March (spring forward) and the first Sunday of November (fall back).
How do I convert UTC to Eastern Time?
During EST (winter): subtract 5 hours from UTC. During EDT (summer): subtract 4 hours from UTC. For example, 18:00 UTC is 13:00 EST in winter or 14:00 EDT in summer. This converter handles the DST transition automatically.
When does EST switch to EDT?
Clocks spring forward on the second Sunday of March at 2:00 AM local time (EST to EDT). Clocks fall back on the first Sunday of November at 2:00 AM local time (EDT to EST). In 2026, the transitions are March 8 and November 1.
Which US cities use Eastern Time?
New York, Washington D.C., Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Miami, Detroit, and Toronto (Canada) all use Eastern Time. It covers roughly 47% of the US population, making it the most commonly referenced US timezone.
Is this tool free?
Yes. All EpochPilot tools are free, run in your browser, and require no signup or account.
How It Works
This converter uses the Intl.DateTimeFormat API with the IANA timezone America/New_York. The browser's timezone database automatically handles EST/EDT transitions, so you never need to manually check whether Daylight Saving Time is in effect.
Eastern Time is the most used timezone in the United States and is the reference timezone for US stock markets (NYSE opens at 9:30 AM ET). For API developers, knowing the current EST/EDT offset is critical when scheduling tasks, processing financial data, or coordinating with US-based services.
Common UTC to Eastern Time Conversions
UTC 00:00 = ET 19:00 (prev day EST) / 20:00 (prev day EDT) | UTC 12:00 = ET 07:00 EST / 08:00 EDT | UTC 17:00 = ET 12:00 EST / 13:00 EDT.
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Privacy
Everything runs locally in your browser. No timestamps, dates, or personal data are transmitted to any server. The source code is open on GitHub.
Contact
EpochPilot is built and maintained by Michael Lip. For questions or feedback, email [email protected].