AST to AKST Time Converter
AKST is 5 hours behind AST. Atlantic Canada and the Caribbean are currently on ADT (UTC-3:00), and Alaska is currently on AKDT (UTC-8:00).
Best Time to Call Between AST and AKST
Both zones are inside normal business hours between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM AST — that's 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM AKST. That's a 3-hour window.
both at work AST only AKST only neither — hours along the strip are AST.
Common Times Converted
AST on the left, AKST on the right.
AST to AKST: Full 24-Hour Conversion Table
Shaded rows are working hours; the darker shade marks the hours when both zones are at work.
| AST | AKST | Working hours |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 AM | 7:00 PM prev day | — |
| 1:00 AM | 8:00 PM prev day | — |
| 2:00 AM | 9:00 PM prev day | — |
| 3:00 AM | 10:00 PM prev day | — |
| 4:00 AM | 11:00 PM prev day | — |
| 5:00 AM | 12:00 AM | — |
| 6:00 AM | 1:00 AM | — |
| 7:00 AM | 2:00 AM | — |
| 8:00 AM | 3:00 AM | — |
| 9:00 AM | 4:00 AM | AST only |
| 10:00 AM | 5:00 AM | AST only |
| 11:00 AM | 6:00 AM | AST only |
| 12:00 PM | 7:00 AM | AST only |
| 1:00 PM | 8:00 AM | AST only |
| 2:00 PM | 9:00 AM | Both zones |
| 3:00 PM | 10:00 AM | Both zones |
| 4:00 PM | 11:00 AM | Both zones |
| 5:00 PM | 12:00 PM | AKST only |
| 6:00 PM | 1:00 PM | AKST only |
| 7:00 PM | 2:00 PM | AKST only |
| 8:00 PM | 3:00 PM | AKST only |
| 9:00 PM | 4:00 PM | AKST only |
| 10:00 PM | 5:00 PM | — |
| 11:00 PM | 6:00 PM | — |
What AST and AKST Actually Are
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.
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.
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 AST
Cities on AKST
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between AST and AKST?
AKST is 5 hours behind AST.
What is 9:00 AM AST in AKST?
9:00 AM AST is 4:00 AM AKST.
What are the best hours to schedule a call between AST and AKST?
Between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM AST, which is 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM AKST. Both sides are inside normal business hours through that window.
Does the difference between AST and AKST 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.