EST to AKST Time Converter
AKST is 4 hours behind EST. The US East Coast is currently on EDT (UTC-4:00), and Alaska is currently on AKDT (UTC-8:00).
Best Time to Call Between EST and AKST
Both zones are inside normal business hours between 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM EST — that's 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM AKST. That's a 4-hour window.
both at work EST only AKST only neither — hours along the strip are EST.
Common Times Converted
EST on the left, AKST on the right.
EST to AKST: Full 24-Hour Conversion Table
Shaded rows are working hours; the darker shade marks the hours when both zones are at work.
| EST | AKST | Working hours |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 AM | 8:00 PM prev day | — |
| 1:00 AM | 9:00 PM prev day | — |
| 2:00 AM | 10:00 PM prev day | — |
| 3:00 AM | 11:00 PM prev day | — |
| 4:00 AM | 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 | 5:00 AM | EST only |
| 10:00 AM | 6:00 AM | EST only |
| 11:00 AM | 7:00 AM | EST only |
| 12:00 PM | 8:00 AM | EST only |
| 1:00 PM | 9:00 AM | Both zones |
| 2:00 PM | 10:00 AM | Both zones |
| 3:00 PM | 11:00 AM | Both zones |
| 4:00 PM | 12:00 PM | Both zones |
| 5:00 PM | 1:00 PM | AKST only |
| 6:00 PM | 2:00 PM | AKST only |
| 7:00 PM | 3:00 PM | AKST only |
| 8:00 PM | 4:00 PM | AKST only |
| 9:00 PM | 5:00 PM | — |
| 10:00 PM | 6:00 PM | — |
| 11:00 PM | 7:00 PM | — |
What EST and AKST Actually Are
EST — Eastern Standard Time
New York, Toronto, Washington DC, Atlanta, Miami, Boston. Standing at UTC-5:00 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 EST. Australia also uses EST for its own Eastern Standard Time (UTC+10), now more often written AEST.
Eastern Standard Time is only actually in force from early November to mid-March. For the other eight months the same region is on EDT, which is why so many EST conversions are quietly wrong.
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 EST
Cities on AKST
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between EST and AKST?
AKST is 4 hours behind EST.
What is 9:00 AM EST in AKST?
9:00 AM EST is 5:00 AM AKST.
What are the best hours to schedule a call between EST and AKST?
Between 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM EST, which is 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM AKST. Both sides are inside normal business hours through that window.
Does the difference between EST 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 EST always mean Eastern Standard Time?
Australia also uses EST for its own Eastern Standard Time (UTC+10), now more often written AEST.