AKST to AST Time Converter
AST is 5 hours ahead of AKST. Alaska is currently on AKDT (UTC-8:00), and Atlantic Canada and the Caribbean are currently on ADT (UTC-3:00).
Best Time to Call Between AKST and AST
Both zones are inside normal business hours between 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM AKST — that's 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM AST. That's a 3-hour window.
both at work AKST only AST only neither — hours along the strip are AKST.
Common Times Converted
AKST on the left, AST on the right.
AKST to AST: Full 24-Hour Conversion Table
Shaded rows are working hours; the darker shade marks the hours when both zones are at work.
| AKST | AST | Working hours |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 AM | 5:00 AM | — |
| 1:00 AM | 6:00 AM | — |
| 2:00 AM | 7:00 AM | — |
| 3:00 AM | 8:00 AM | — |
| 4:00 AM | 9:00 AM | AST only |
| 5:00 AM | 10:00 AM | AST only |
| 6:00 AM | 11:00 AM | AST only |
| 7:00 AM | 12:00 PM | AST only |
| 8:00 AM | 1:00 PM | AST only |
| 9:00 AM | 2:00 PM | Both zones |
| 10:00 AM | 3:00 PM | Both zones |
| 11:00 AM | 4:00 PM | Both zones |
| 12:00 PM | 5:00 PM | AKST only |
| 1:00 PM | 6:00 PM | AKST only |
| 2:00 PM | 7:00 PM | AKST only |
| 3:00 PM | 8:00 PM | AKST only |
| 4:00 PM | 9:00 PM | AKST only |
| 5:00 PM | 10:00 PM | — |
| 6:00 PM | 11:00 PM | — |
| 7:00 PM | 12:00 AM next day | — |
| 8:00 PM | 1:00 AM next day | — |
| 9:00 PM | 2:00 AM next day | — |
| 10:00 PM | 3:00 AM next day | — |
| 11:00 PM | 4:00 AM next day | — |
What AKST and AST Actually Are
AKST — Alaska Standard Time
Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau. Standing at UTC-9:00 as written, and the region does change its clocks, so its live offset moves by an hour twice a year. The next change is on Sunday, November 1, 2026, to AKST.
Alaska compressed four time zones into one in 1983, moving most of the state onto a single clock to keep business hours aligned with the rest of the country.
AST — Atlantic Standard Time
Halifax, San Juan, Santo Domingo, Bermuda. Standing at UTC-4:00 as written, and the region does change its clocks, so its live offset moves by an hour twice a year. The next change is on Sunday, November 1, 2026, to AST. AST also stands for Arabia Standard Time (UTC+3), used in Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait.
Atlantic Standard Time is the only North American zone whose name is more commonly associated, worldwide, with a completely different zone — Arabia Standard Time.
What This Means in Practice
Both sides change clocks, on different dates
Both regions observe daylight saving but do not switch on the same day, so for a week or two each spring and fall the gap between them is an hour different from the rest of the year. Those short windows are where recurring invitations quietly break.
Major Cities in Each Zone
Cities on AKST
Cities on AST
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between AKST and AST?
AST is 5 hours ahead of AKST.
What is 9:00 AM AKST in AST?
9:00 AM AKST is 2:00 PM AST.
What are the best hours to schedule a call between AKST and AST?
Between 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM AKST, which is 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM AST. Both sides are inside normal business hours through that window.
Does the difference between AKST and AST change during the year?
Yes. Both regions observe daylight saving, and they do not switch on the same dates, so the gap shifts by an hour at least twice a year. The next clock change is on Sunday, November 1, 2026.
Does AST always mean Atlantic Standard Time?
AST also stands for Arabia Standard Time (UTC+3), used in Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait.